Chiltern Woodlands Project News of the Woods No 47 Summer 2011 and Annual Report 2010-2011 How much ancient woodland do we have?

Old hornbeam stubs at Keepers Wood at ncient woods have been continuously wooded since before 1600AD and Hyde Heath on the proposed route of HS2 cannot be replaced or recreated. They contain species, including the trees Athat although influenced by management by man, are also semi-natural in that inside they reflect the local growing conditions. Forest Schools The Chiltern Woodlands Project has started to update the ancient woodland inventory The Chiltern Woodlands Project for the whole of the Chilterns AONB. The inventory is maintained by Natural Report 2010-2011 and used by the Forestry Commission and others to protect this important habitat. Special Trees and Woods of the Chilterns This work will add ancient woods under 2 ha that have not been included before and also review and revise the boundaries of other ancient woods. It is part of a News and Events programme that has been updating the inventory across in recent years. Victoria Hume is carrying out the desk based map work and the Chiltern Woodlands Project has surveyed the woods. 33 sites were visited, which amounted to 64ha. High Speed Rail and Ancient Woodland The Chiltern Society is delighted to sponsor this Newsletter As part of environmental impact assessment we have calculated the numbers and areas of woodland directly impacted by the HS2 route through the AONB. The Chiltern Society organises a programme of over 130 guided walks each year, Numbers of different areas of woodland impacted 19 at least 2 per week, throughout the Chilterns. Our cycle group have a programme of Total Area likely to be destroyed 17.75 hectares weekly rides. Come and join in to discover a new area However, of these areas 7 are Ancient Woodland Sites (10.9ha) with potentially 2 further of the Chilterns. to be classed as Ancient woodland (0.62ha). Details on our website and on the calendar on our home page No planting of new trees can replace areas of Ancient Woodland destroyed. The areas We welcome new members destroyed are often parts of larger woodland. Habitats and colonies of both flora and Come and join people like you who love fauna when reduced in size or fragmented and separated are much less likely to survive and care for the Chilterns. and prone to eventual loss. The total area of woodland directly affected in this way is For details of walks/cycle rides 62.77 ha, 46.3ha of which is Ancient Woodland. volunteering opportunities and membership

01494 771250 12 small areas (2.5ha), although not destroyed, will be completely cut off by the route. www.chilternsociety.org.uk Any wildlife contained in these small fragments will be isolated from the main woodland areas with little chance of linking to other colonies.

The Chiltern Woodlands Project is supported by the Chilterns Conservation Board, County Council, Three Rivers, South Oxfordshire, Chiltern, and Councils, Dacorum Borough Council, the Forestry Commission and the Chiltern Society. Registered in England as a Company Limited by guarantee no. 2357329. Registered charity no. 1002512. Forest Schools

The sound of laughter in your woods

he group of boys, using their initiative, worked mature woodland would provide different and a wider range of together moving the logs and discussing the best way experiences for them. Tto make mud cannon balls. Alongside them, the girls dug happily, not noticing the rain until one of them called out in I need alternative “ local woodland environments” that I can take delight ”look I have found a worm.” These children in brightly children to visit .You might not think of your woodland as “wild” coloured coats and wellingtons boots were taking part in a most but to children of all ages it could become a magical place, a unusual school lesson. They were part of our Forest School. place to test their physical skills and imagination, if they get to know it and observe how it changes through the seasons. As a Primary School teacher, I have always had an interest in Environmental Education and a belief that child-centred, hands- Buckinghamshire has a newly formed Forest Education Initiative on learning holds the key to good practice in education. I was Cluster group that hopes to put together a list of available overjoyed at the discovery of Forest Schools in woodland sites and contact details so that we can match schools Buckinghamshire and then was surprised to find out that Forest and woodland owners. There are other schools and educational School had been running in different parts of the UK since 1995 groups who would also like to visit woodlands in the Chilterns and no one had told me. I was soon to discover that Forest on a regular basis with their Forest School leaders. There are School was very different from Environmental Education and plenty of practical obstacles, like access, transport, toilet was unique in the way that it helps to build a child's self esteem arrangements, public rights of way, liability insurance that need in ways other aspects of the curriculum didn't. Qualified Forest to be discussed. A visit to any local woodland site is not School leaders use simple achievable tasks and encourage child- undertaken without detailed consideration of the risks and the initiated learning where no child fails. The wider curriculum ecological impact. This forms a key aspect of the level 3 OCN back in the classroom reaps the benefits as the children improve Forest School practioners qualification which will be held by all their communication and cooperation skills. They use maths and those leading groups in the woodland. science instinctively, unaware of the learning that is taking place. We know that you are proud of your woods and we would like to Originally the idea of Forest School came from Scandinavia, provide children with experiences that will benefit them where this teaching style is provided for children under seven, immediately and build for the long term future. They are the next before their formal education begins. It has been internationally generation of people who will truly want to preserve rich recognised as being beneficial to the development of the children environments and habitats for everyone to enjoy. and brings with it a greater respect for the natural world and nature conservation in later life. If you would like to hear laughter, squeals of interest, magical stories being rehearsed, shelters being made and real life (not Forest School has been defined by Forest School (England) as screen based) experiences being shared, please contact me. “an inspirational process that offers children and young people opportunities to develop confidence and self-esteem, through Mrs Mary Simons hands on learning experiences in a local woodland (Primary School teacher and Forest School Practitioner) environment”. Contact: [email protected]

L. O'Brian and R. Murray. ( A marvellous Opportunity for Children to Learn: Forest Schools also take place in Pigotts Wood, where some 400 A participatory evaluation of Forest School in England and Wales (Farnham, children from the primary school have visited regularly in their Forest Research 2006) specially purchased minibus.

They also started for the first time this spring in the Chiltern Our Environmental Area provides an interesting site with young Society's where children from the Mary Towerton trees that are only twenty years old and areas of meadow, grass primary school in now walk down to the wood verges and hedgerows. As I monitor the way that this small twice a week. group of children interact with this environment, I can see that a

2 Annual Report 2010-2011 For the period from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011

The Chiltern Woodlands Project is a registered charity, its main activities are set out in its business plan for the three years 2009 – 2012. Continue to provide a range of expert advisory and training services supporting woodland owners, to improve management skills and knowledge so that a greater area of woodland is included within long term sustainable management plans. Expand our influence to ensure that woods in the Chilterns get the support they need, and to build a sustainable rural economy, including energy resources. Raise awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the Chiltern woodlands through the website, newsletters, publications, and events. Help owners commence restoration of ancient woods including plantations on ancient woodland sites.

Specific work items include: Supporting the Chilterns Conservation Board's AONB Management Plan 2008 -13. Manage a Heritage Lottery funded project 'Special Trees and Woods' until June 2010. Promote the management of grey squirrels, deer and other pests.

The full business plan document can be downloaded from the Chiltern Woodlands Project page on our web pages at www.chilternsaonb.org/caring/woodlands_project.html

A new plan is being prepared to guide the charity's work in the changing economic climate. Chairman’s Report

his is my last annual report as I retire as chairman in Do buy a copy of the book featuring 50 of the Special Trees and September after nine years in the role. It has been a Woods of the Chilterns, which was launched by Thomas Ttremendous pleasure to work with John and the Chiltern Pakenham at a special event last November Woodlands Project. John has a special commitment to the Chiltern woods and has, as usual, worked hard raising the Thanks are due to our active Board of Trustees for their efforts awareness of woodland owners and and to all our funding partners in this difficult the public in the importance of good financial climate. We are also grateful to the management. We are most grateful Chilterns Conservation Board for their to him as we prepare a new Business continuing support and assistance. Plan for the future in these changing times, I wish him luck. Last year we started work to update the ancient woodland inventory for the Chilterns Last June we completed our AONB, starting with small woods under 2ha extremely successful Special Trees in the Misbourne Valley, which may be and Woods Project, thanks to the affected by the proposed High Speed rail efforts of Rachel Sanderson and the route. Further surveys are planned. The excellent work of the team of coming year presents a variety of challenges volunteers and the financial support as we continue to adapt to the times. of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Chilterns Conservation Board.

Cherry Aston, chairman of the Chiltern Woodlands Project, speaking at the Chilterns Woodland Cherry Aston, July 2011 Conference in March 2011

3 Some Key Events of the last year *

A major aim this year was to bring more woods into active District Number of Area Ha management, so that timber and firewood could be harvested in owners visited a sustainable manner, and to generate income for the Project Chiltern 23 299.1 Wycombe 12 173.1 It has been a busy year with some notable achievements. The South Bucks 2 14.3 Project offered woodland management advice on some 717.4 South Oxfordshire 5 44.5 hectares of land (1,772 acres) and assistance to 48 owners and Three Rivers 2 76.0 28 of these visits have led to follow up work such as preparing Aylesbury Vale 1 50.0 English Woodland Grant Scheme Management plans or felling Dacorum 3 60.5 licence applications and related work. The Project charges for Central Beds 0 this work. Total 48 717.4

English Woodland Grant Scheme *8 management plans were completed during the year. A further 5 were submitted to the Forestry Commission and are awaiting final agreement. Owners have asked the project for help with another 7 plans. The total area of woodland being brought into management for 28 woodland owners is approximately 420ha. This includes 8 felling licences which were obtained, but were not part of the EWGS and a further felling licence application has been drafted.

Mackrory felling conifers and laurel to restore an ancient wood in Harvesting larch north of South Oxfordshire

The demand for firewood has grown considerably during the last The project organised a formative pruning of young year or so, pushed up by higher prices for domestic heating oil *broadleaved woodland workshop at Inisfree Farm, Great and the colder weather, with a shortage of available supply. Missenden in October 2010. The aim of the day was to learn to The sustainable annual increment of harvestable timber and identify the best trees, how these could be pruned so they firewood in the Chilterns is estimated to be over 60,000 tonnes develop into quality timber, and also to consider which trees per annum. This is based on 15,000 ha of woodland being should be thinned out for neighbouring trees to benefit. managed productively and yielding just 4 tonnes per ha. For species such as ash and cherry the annual increment is likely to be double this and for some conifers it will be even higher. Increasing the light level in the woods as a result of thinning should benefit the woodland flora, much of which responds positively to some disturbance. This then benefits a range of insects, including butterflies, and also bird life. John stood down as a trustee of the Small Woods * Association* at the end of 2010 but continues to represent them on the Forestry Commission's Applicants Focus Group which discussed the implementation of the English Woodland Grant Scheme and related subjects; and is a member of the Woodland Initiatives Network steering group. Pruning workshop 4 The Chiltern Society's *Bottom Wood Group of volunteers was relaunched last year. John Stidworthy, the previous chairman of the group who has now moved out of the area, won the Chilterns Conservation Board award for outstanding contribution at the annual forum. Tony Shields has now taken over as chairman. A new management plan for the wood, drawn up by John Morris, was agreed with the Forestry Commission. Volunteers continued to lay the coppice hedge along the bridleway below Toothill on Sunday mornings over the winter. Volunteers also put up new nest boxes to monitor the dormouse population. Derek Fletcher of Three Counties Cherry thinned for firewood in Bottom Wood Timber started a felling programme to thin and open up a few Chilterns LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) both small deteriorating areas of the wood so they can be regenerated. *John Morris and Cherry Aston attended meetings. LEADER has The firewood from this operation will be sold. Bottom Wood is a some funding available to support the purchase of forestry 14.5ha nature reserve in , near , Bucks. equipment in the Chilterns AONB.

Wood Fuel East steering group, covers the Eastern region, *including Herts & Beds, with grants to support woodland owners and contractors to invest in harvesting and processing equipment and related infrastructure.

John Morris has a secretarial role in support of two Deer *Management Groups in the Chilterns; an event was held at Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve to look at how to monitor the impacts of deer on the vegetation.

We held another one day woodland archaeology *workshop at Pigotts in early March 2011, 7 participants. John led a guided walk in Pigotts Wood for BBOWT at the end of Regrowth of hazel in hedge March with 16 participants.

John Morris has been asked to sit on the government's* Forestry Regulation Task Force which is looking at how to better regulate forestry and will report to the minister in September 2011.

Angling Spring Wood, the Chiltern W*oodlands Project has a contract to help Chiltern District Council to manage this 16.3ha amenity wood. Prestwood Nature volunteers continued clearing holly to allow the bluebells and other spring flowers to flourish. A further thinning of larch was arranged and Graham Vidler of Galloway Forestry Contractors made a start on this felling.

Felling larch in Angling Spring Wood

5 Promotion and awareness raising events

John led 4 guided walks for 79 participants in the last year; this included a walk around Carpenters Wood to look at archaeological features, for Three Rivers DC, and a walk along the Grim's Ditch at Nuffield in South Oxfordshire. John also gave 9 illustrated talks to a variety of groups.

John led an interesting one day woodland archaeology workshop at Helmsley in Yorkshire for Yorwoods in February. Speakers at the Woodland Conference The project organised Chiltern Woodlands Conference on the South Bucks District Council asked for a survey of The Clump theme of “wood fuel and PAWS restoration in the Chilterns” in and a report on this native woodland for a planning application. March 11, over 60 attended. Other work John wrote a 30 page booklet for the Forestry Commission John continues to assist the Chilterns Conservation Board at a London region and English Heritage on Woodland number of its regular meetings including the Environment Archaeology in London, which was published in April 2010. Forum, Historic Environment, Land Management, Wood Fuel, Commons and Orchards Groups. Three Rivers District Council asked John to carryout a survey of archaeological features in Bishops Wood Country Park, He also on the local committee of the Royal Forestry Society Hertfordshire; a large ancient woodland that was being cleared Oxon / Bucks division and arranged a visit to Bradenham Woods of conifers, ahead of further felling. and Common.

Special Trees and Woods Project - highlights

e reached the end of our Heritage Lottery pecial Trees and Woods of the Chilterns was written Funding for this project in June 2010. A final by volunteers; edited by Rachel Sanderson and Wreport covering the projects achievements from Sproduced thanks to the efforts of Marie Hanson, an MA January 2006 to March 2010 can be downloaded from the website. graduate from Oxford Brookes University. Its price is £16.99 See the web pages for details on www.chilternsaonb.org/special plus post and packing

We thank Rachel for all her efforts to This book, with 50 stories of Special Trees and complete the work of the Special Trees Woods, was launched at an event in High and Woods project, which included Wycombe on Saturday 20th November with giving some talks after the end of the Thomas Pakenham author of “Meetings with project. Remarkable Trees” as our guest speaker.

Over 50 volunteers have been active The new book has sold 437 copies in 4 months during the past year helping us record the and so far raised £4,274.47 in sales. special trees and woods of the Chilterns. Our thanks to them all for their efforts, the project depended on them for its success. Thomas Pakenham (left) and Sir John Johnson at the book launch.

6 Board of Directors Financial Summary Cherry Aston - Chairman Book keeping and payroll services were provided by Trudy and Adrian Lepper - Company Secretary Andrew Otter of Avocet Accounting and Business Services Ltd of , Bucks until the Special Trees & Woods Project Howard Pool - Hon Treasurer was completed. Jeremy Hodge Richard Pushman - Buckinghamshire County Council Howard Pool took over the book keeping role in July 2010 on a Paul Rogerson - Wycombe District Council voluntary basis, while Avocet continued to provide payroll Elaine Bamford - Chiltern District Council (until AGM) services. Nigel Shepherd - Chiltern District Council (from AGM) David Harris - Chiltern Society (Vice Chairman) Annual accounts are prepared by George Hay & Co London. Copies of these accounts will be available from the office on John Taylor - Chiltern Society (to AGM) request. Keith Muras - Chiltern Society (from AGM) John Nowell Smith - South Oxfordshire District Council The “Cultural Heritage of Chiltern Woods - an illustrated Heather Barrett-Mold - Chilterns Conservation Board guide to archaeological features” sold well during the year, Steve Patrick particularly at talks, with over 204 copies raising nearly Janet Simmonds £1,600.50. Susan Howkins Waitrose green token collections The AGM to approve the accounts and elect the Board for the were held in 5 stores and raised coming year will be held on 23 September 2011 in Chinnor. £1705 in donations Harpenden 460 Staff Berkhamsted 320 John Morris, Director Henley 221 Rachel Sanderson – Special Trees & Woods coordinator (until 30 June 2010) Beaconsfield 324 Marlow 380

Officers from key partners are members of the steering group, which meets at the Board meetings, our thanks to Steve Rodrick Income Chief Officer Chilterns Conservation Board, Richard Pearce of For core activities £ 56,962 the Forestry Commission, Martin Gammie of South Oxfordshire HLF for Special Trees Project £ 18,464 District Council, Andy McVeigh of Buckinghamshire County Total Income £ 75,426 Council and David Stowe of Chiltern District Council. Expenditure Core activities £ Duty of Care Roadside Surveys Special Trees Project £ Total Expenditure £ 74,082 Forestry contracting services Arboriculture Woodland management Supply of trees and shrubs We are most grateful for the continuing support of the Chilterns Conservation Board, who provide the project with office North Aston, Oxfordshire OX25 6HL. Tel 01869 340 342 accommodation in Chinnor. N I C H O L S O N S www.nicholsons.gb.com RIDGEWAY WOODLANDS WOODLAND MANAGEMENT ADVICE & CONTRACTING Grant applications Weed control Conservation work Re-spacing Ride management Thinning Tree Planting Clearing Pete Whipp Bsc (For) 01494 433944 Milk Cap - Lactarius species

7 News Book Review

The Renewable Heat Incentive has recently been announced Woodland management for butterflies and moths - A best and the Forestry Commission will have a new £10 million grant practice guide published by Butterfly Conservation (2011) price scheme up and running in the summer to develop access within £15.00 email: woodlands to allow fuel and other wood products to be [email protected] www.butterfly-conservation.org harvested. If you have ever wondered what The Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant is a new grant individual species of butterflies or that supports the sustainable production of woodfuel and other moths need to survive in your timber products. Work woodland then this is the book for needs to meet the UK you. It tells you where and when to Forest Standard but the find them and what they require basis for support is through their life cycle. Many species economic rather than have declined, in part as a result of environmental or reduced levels of woodland social. A long term management. The book highlights woodland management some key woodland species. plan needs to be in place to get these Silver Washed Fritillary (John Morris) capital grants. This grant will open for applications from summer 2011 for 2 years and can help pay for capital work such as extraction tracks and loading bays and marking trees for felling. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs-wigwoodfuel Chilterns CONSERVATION BOARD For more information or help with applications contact John Co Morris unt S rys und ide ay Fe 18t stival h S from ep tem Latest News 11am to 4pm ber 2011 at the National Trust Ashridge Estate The Chiltern Woodlands Project has been offered funding Bridgewater Monument, Near Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 1LT through LEADER to run a series of workshops and Adults £3, children free. r the act ove ivitie There is a small charge for some information sheets for woodland owners through to the end of c s, c is r a f activities D ts a December 2012. These events will be focussed on the nd Free parking Masses to see and do ind in the meadow commercial / productive use of woods in the Chilterns. ust for all the family ries F or more information phone: linked with our Subjects to be covered include 01442 851 227 or 07788 49 11 40 local countryside Marketing timber and wood fuel Woodland inventory recording Photos © John Morris, Chiltern Woodlands Project, unless stated otherwise Working with contractors and model agreements Selling your softwoods Selling your hardwoods Chiltern Woodlands Project partners: Selecting and marking for thinning Adding value to timber

For more information and to register interest in these events CONSERVATION BOARD please contact John Morris

Chiltern Woodlands Project The Lodge, 90 Station Road Chinnor Enews Oxon OX39 4HA Please note future newsletters are likely to be produced as Tel: 01844 355503 Fax: 01844 355510 enews only, in order to save money on printing and Email: [email protected] postage. Please let the Project have your email address if you want to receive our e-newsletters. 444444 www.chilternsaonb.org