Annual Report 2018/19

News of the Woods No 55 Summer 2019 Annual Report 2018/19

A registered charity founded 30 years ago in April 1989 by the Chiltern Society and partners as a not for profit company. We are based in the Chilterns Conservation Board’s offices in Chinnor. We work across the Chilterns Natural Area, which includes all of the Chilterns AONB and the towns. For more information please see our webpages at http://www.chilternsaonb.org/woodlands-project The Chilterns AONB covers 324 square miles of country- side. It is one of 38 AONBs in England and Wales, which belong to the same family as National Parks. A new AONB management plan will be published this year. The Chilterns AONB is heavily wooded with over 21% woodland cover, about 60% of these woods are ancient.

Ash dieback, Chalara, is now found in the Chil- terns, it is most noticeable on saplings. This fungal disease is likely to kill millions of ash across the AONB, with roadside and hedgerow trees harder to replace. The replanting or replacement of diseased trees will be needed.

IN THIS ISSUE

Chairman’s remarks ...... 2 Our aims ...... 3 Summary of work ...... 3 Examples of work ...... 4 Case study…...... 5 Timber prices are now higher than they have been for many years, so Events...... 6 it is a good time to bring woods back into positive management. Annual Report & Finances………………7 Services …….………………… ……………...8

Registered charity No 1002512 Company limited by guarantee registered in England no 2357329 Annual Report 2018 -19

In the past year John gave advice and assistance (two sessions for Chiltern Society members in to 52 woodland owners spread across the Chil- Bottom Wood) with 123 participants, and gave 3 terns. Further applications for felling permission talks to groups and societies and one guided and other work continues to be organised. walk. During the year we helped the Royal Forestry John contributed to workshops and drafts of the Society with the management of 74ha of Hocker- next Chilterns AONB Management Plan. idge and Pancake Woods near Berkhamsted. We have organised regular volunteer workparties with the Chiltern Society (8 sessions on Friday mornings averaging about 15 volunteers per ses- sion). Arranged a series of chainsaw training courses in partnership with Vale Training in Chiltern District Council Angling Spring Wood, 16ha managed with assistance from Prestwood Nature volunteers. Other work included nine woodland training events, including woodland archaeology, ancient woodland flora, and tree identification

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS— ANDREW INGRAM This report summarises our last year’s activities. Training days and talks by John were an important part of the mix in getting our message out and helped bring in some income. Looking ahead Ash dieback is starting to become much more noticeable in the Chilterns and the treescape is going to change over the next few years. The impact of this fungal disease on ash trees will be most obvi- ous on hedgerow trees, along roadsides and those ash found in gardens in villages across the Chilterns AONB. Risk assessment is an essential part of taking appropriate care – not all trees are in high risk loca- tions and action must depend on where the trees are. Ash trees lost in woods will gradually be replaced by other species of tree, either by planting or natural regeneration. However the browsing of natural regeneration or planted trees by deer will require protection or control. The cumulative impact of bark stripping year after year on younger trees by grey squirrels on many of our native species of tree makes planting these species an expensive option. New methods to control squirrel numbers are needed urgently – natural predators such as pine marten could help, but trapping, shooting or fertility control may well be needed too. Ash trees suffering from Ash Dieback for some time become brittle and more dangerous to fell as this disease progresses, so tree surgeons and other contractors may not be safe working on diseased ash unless they have specialist machinery to protect them. Not all ash trees show dieback in the canopy, it can also cause basal lesions leading to attack by honey fungus, which may cause the root system to fail and the tree to collapse. Some ash may be more resistant to the disease so it is important to retain healthy trees in the hope that these can help restock woods through their seedlings. The time for planning for this disease is now, we are running out of time to prepare for this problem on a very common tree. If you would like help or advice dealing with woodland management issues, ash disease, or are considering a replanting programme do get in touch with John, the Project may well be able to assist with planning work, getting approval such as a felling licence, or finding suitable contractors. We are grateful to all our partners for their continuing support, including Wycombe and Chiltern District Councils, Three Rivers, the Chiltern Society and Chilterns Conservation Board. We work with closely with the Chilterns Conservation Board on tree and woodland related matters in the AONB and a new Chilterns AONB2 management plan is published this year. Our aim is to achieve a cherished and thriving woodland resource across the Chilterns and surrounding areas. We promote effective and sympathetic woodland management, so protecting the landscape, conserving nature and promoting a sustainable woodland economy, which is also of value for recreation and tourism. Work is across five linked themes: A. Landscape: to protect and enhance the wooded landscape of the Chilterns. B. Biodiversity: to maintain and enhance nature in the Chilterns. C. Economy: to promote a sustainable woodland economy in the Chilterns; including the use of timber and wood fuel. D. Historic Environment :– to raise awareness and interest in the history and archaeology of woods across the Chilterns Signs of ash dieback in a 20 year old ash tree where an in- E. Community: to increase awareness, understanding, and en- fected branch meets the trunk. joyment of Chiltern woodland. The Chiltern Woodlands Project offers an advisory service to help bring woods into management, working in partnership with others including contractors and volunteer groups.

The main areas of work in the last year included:

Woodland advisory & consultancy work in 2018/19 District Number of owners

Chiltern 12 Wycombe 17 South Bucks 3 South Oxon 10 Three Rivers 1 Autumn colour—seasonal change is an important aspect of the Chilterns landscape Dacorum 3 Aylesbury Vale 3 Central Beds 1 Other 2 Total 52

52 owners were visited to offer advice and assistance on the management of their trees and woods. The area covered was over 450 ha, (1100 acres) .

Peacock butterfly 3 Some examples in pictures of work organised Organised 8 Chiltern Society volunteer work parties on Friday by the Chiltern Woodlands Project mornings in the Royal Forestry Society’s Hockeridge Wood be- tween Berkhamsted & Chesham

Chiltern Rangers about to clear evergreen laurel in Walkwood Chiltern Society volunteers fitting new bowsaw blades in RFS Hockeridge Wood

Thinning of sickly oaks for timber & firewood Vale Training chainsaw courses cutting larch in a thinning in Angling Spring Wood for Chiltern District Council

Woodland archaeology days in Pigotts Wood

Winter tree identification course for the Royal Forestry Society

4 During the last year the Project continued to offer tree and woodland management advice and assistance. This was provided to 52 woodland owners spread across the wider Chilterns area. This includes 22 ancient woods, 4 SSSI, 4 commons and an ancient monument, covering over 445 ha (1100 acres). The Project works with owners, contractors, training providers and volunteer groups to implement management plans. We were helped by the Chiltern Rangers team clearing laurel in two woods.

The Project ran a series of educational events including nine training days, three on woodland archaeology, two on ancient flora, and four on tree identification with a total of 123 participants. There were three talks to groups and societies, with an audience of over 200 people, and led a guided walk.

John led eight Chiltern Society volunteer workparties on Friday mornings in the Royal Forestry Society’s Hockeridge and Pancake Woods. Three woods were used for a series of chainsaw training courses run by Vale Training in Angling Spring Wood thinning larch, Capel Manor col- lege at Hockeridge Wood, and KNW Training thinning conifers at Penn for the Chiltern Society.

There is now a major threat from ash dieback to millions of ash trees across the Chilterns. This disease will have a considerable impact in the next few years. It adds to the other problems woods face from increasing levels of deer browsing due to increasing numbers of deer, grey squirrel bark stripping, drought, storms and a changing climate. If we are not careful other tree pests and diseases could also become major problems.

Captains Wood, Chesham—shows excellent beech regeneration 5

After thinning weak trees to let light on to hazel coppice Some trees, such as this rotten old ash by a public foot- path, need to be felled for safety reasons.

Events in 2018/19 The Project ran a number of successful events and training days through the year, with woodland archaeology and winter and summer tree identification days proving popular. John also gave talks about ancient woods in the Chil- terns to groups in Henley, Chorleywood and Linslade

Harvester cutting spruce in an ancient wood near Goring

Bottom Wood ran a Tree Identification course for Arranged chainsaw courses to thin out poorer conifers at the Chiltern Society Penn for the Chiltern Society

Capel Manor students, carried out a number of chainsaw courses over the autumn and winter months in RFS 6 Hockeridge and Pancake Woods, with the trees selected and marked by John Morris.

Board of Directors / Trustees Andrew Ingram - Chairman Adrian Lepper - Company Secretary David Harris - Chiltern Society (Vice Chairman) Derek Ford - Finance Cherry Aston Richard Pushman - For Buckinghamshire County Council Heather Barrett-Mold

Ray Payne - Chilterns Conservation Board The red kite is now a common sight. It nests in trees John Gladwin - Chiltern District Council in woods across the Chilterns, following its reintro- duction 30 years ago. These nest sites are protected. The AGM to approve the accounts and elect the Board for the coming year will be held in Chinnor in the autumn.

Financial Summary Income Last year 2017 /18 This year 2018/19 Total Income £65,658 £ 40,694

Expenditure Total Expenditure £57,270 £ 58,135 Whitebeam—a tree of the chalk scarp

Surplus / Deficit £8,388 - £ 17,441

Note— both years figures show an “in kind” contribution from CCB for office of £5,500 in both income and expenditure. These accounts will be available from the office, 0n request. A funding raising appeal by the Chiltern Society and generous donations helped, however the value of our share holding fell by £1,910 and it proved to be a diffi- cult year to attract other funds.

Butterflies like this Silver washed fritillary bene- Staff fit from more light being let into the woods John Morris, Director

We are most grateful for the continuing support of the Chilterns Conservation Board, who provide the project with office accommodation in Chinnor. Our thanks to officers from key partners including the Forestry Commission, Chilterns Conservation Board, Wycombe District Council and Chiltern District Council. Thanks to the members of the steering group who attend the Board meetings to offer advice and support.

7 The Chiltern Society is the largest charity operat- ing across the Chilterns as a whole, with over CHILTERN WOODLANDS 7,000 members and 500 volunteers.

PROJECT SERVICES We take practical action to protect, enhance, pro-

Woodland Management advice (free mote and campaign for the Chilterns as a place of first visit) remarkable beauty and unique character, and for Woodland Management plans Tree and Woodland Surveys the benefit of all who live, work or visit there. Woodland ecological and historical assessments Woodland Grant applications Felling licence applications to the Forestry Commission Identifying and marking trees for felling Finding and supervising contractors Tree Health and Condition Surveys

Training, Events, Conferences, Talks & Guided walks

Do get in touch if you want our help!

We are on Twitter @ChilternWoods

All photos in this report copyright John Morris

Bluebells under the beech in RFS Hockeridge Wood

Contact John Morris BSc CBiol MRSB, Director Chiltern Woodlands Project The Lodge 90 Station Road Chinnor, Oxon OX39 4HA Phone 01844 355503 email [email protected]

Registered charity No 1002512 Company limited by guarantee registered in England no 2357329 8