Puddletown Forest Covers a Total Area of 301 Ha and Is Located Three Miles North East of the County Town of Dorchester and One Mile South West of Puddletown Village

Purbeck Forest Design Plan

FOREST ENTERPRISE Application for Forest Design Plan Approvals Plan Name: Puddletown

FE Plan Reference Number: NEW 107 Forest District: South England Forest District

FC Geographic Block No 10 Woodland / Property Name: Puddletown

Date of Commencement of Plan: 1 August, 2013 FE Reference Number: NEW 107

Plan Period: 1 August, 2013 to 31 July, 2023 (10 years) Nearest town or village: Portesham

OS Grid Reference: SY 739 927 (Centre of Woodland) Summary of Activity within Approval Period: Local Authority: West Dorset District Council

All areas in hectares I apply for Forest Design Plan approval for the property described above and in the enclosed Forest Design Plan. Activity Conifers Broadleaves Other Heathland Total

Open or Mire Area

Space I undertake to obtain any permissions necessary for the implementation of the approved Felling 16.8 16.8 Plan.

Restocking 12.7 12.7

Other 4.1 4.1 Habitat Signed: Restoration

Michael Seddon, Deputy Surveyor, New Forest

Date: Total Plan Area: 301 Ha

Approved: ...... Conservator

Conservancy:

......

Date: ......

| Purbeck FDP | May 2013 |

Purbeck Forest Design Plan

The age structure of the woodland is linked to the date of the original leases. Most of the 8. Puddletown NEW 107 area leased from Puddletown LLP was planted between 1924 and 1927. Remnants of the original Douglas Fir and pine planting remain in pockets throughout the woodland. Much of the woodland leased in the 1950s dates from this time. Much of the original woodland has Location (See Location Map) been felled from the late 70s until the early 90s and subsequently replanted with Douglas Fir and Corsican Pine.

Puddletown Forest covers a total area of 301 Ha and is located three miles north east of the county town of Dorchester and one mile south west of Puddletown village. The woodland lies Conservation (See Site Designation Map) on the ridge between the river valleys of the Frome to the south and the Piddle to the north. Most of the woodland south of the ridge top at Green Hill is south east facing. The local The forest lies on the very edge of the Dorset Heaths Natural Area and forms the most topography is quite extreme with narrow steep sided valleys. North of the Green Hill ridge, westerly example of a Poole Basin Heath site. Remnants of heathland change from the the slopes are north west facing. Puddletown Forest is now dissected by the deep cutting of Calluna/Ulex minor mix found on the majority of the Poole basin to Calluna Gallii mix that is otherwise restricted to the Poole conurbation. Bilberry also occurs in abundance indicating the A35 dual carriageway trunk road. the wetter conditions found in the westerly extremes of the Poole Basin. In addition, this site

marks the natural western limit of some rare reptiles, notably the sand lizard and smooth Landscape Context snake.

Two ancient woodland sites lie adjacent to the forest. Yellowham Wood to the north west and Recreation Ilsington Wood to the east. Yellowham Wood is predominantly Oak with Hazel coppice but much of Ilsington Wood has been replanted with conifers. Thorncombe Wood is a predominantly broadleaved woodland to the west of the forest and is currently managed by Puddletown Forest is the largest woodland within ten minutes drive of Dorchester and is signposted from the A35. Retention of sporting rights by the leasor limits the formal Dorset County Council. Much of Duddle Heath is under private ownership and is planted with provision of recreation facilities in the forest. The forest is crossed by a number of bridleways conifers. and ancient trackways lying between historic boundary banks. The comprehensive gravel road network is well used by dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Most of the public access The southern boundary of the forest is visible from the minor road but the rhododendron is from gateways situated along the Rhododendron Mile or through Black Bottom behind originally planted for ornamentation restricts views into the forest from Rhododendron Mile Hardy’s Cottage. except for occasional glimpses at gateways. The north of the forest is dissected by a deep cutting carrying the A35 trunk road and the resulting forest boundaries now look unnatural The area has strong associations with the novelist Thomas Hardy. The cottage where he was on the skyline The north west facing slopes are visible from the A35. born and lived is situated at Higher Bockampton on the western edge of the forest. The cottage is owned by the National Trust and is a local tourist attraction. During Hardy’s time much of the forest would have been heathland and some sites such as the Rainbarrows are Current Woodland Structure (See Habitat Structure and Age Structure referred to in his novel, “Return of the Native” Charts) Archaeology (See Site Designation Map) The woodland on the more acidic soils is dominated by Douglas Fir, Corsican Pine and Scots

Pine. North of the ridge the woodland becomes a mixture of conifers and broadleaves, with Puddletown Forest contains eight Scheduled Ancient Monuments comprising seven bowl Beech and Ash more evident on the calcareous soils. Norway Spruce is planted on localised barrows (funerary monuments) and the course of a Roman Road leading eastwards from poorly drained soils in the valley bottoms. Overall Douglas Fir and Corsican Pine occupy Dorchester across the forest. A further four bowl barrows, known as rainbarrows, are located approximately 85% of the woodland, 8% is comprised of broadleaves and the remainder is a along the Duddle Heath ridge. These sites lie just outside FC managed land but are shown on mixture of other conifer species. Open space is increasing as a result of felling for heathland the maps for context. restoration.

| Purbeck FDP | May 2013 |

Purbeck Forest Design Plan

The Scheduled Monuments have current management plans approved by English Heritage and the sites will be managed in accordance with these management plans.

| Purbeck FDP | May 2013 |

Purbeck Forest Design Plan

Habitat & Age Structure Statistics 2013

Puddletown

10 Years Present Time In 10 Years Time In 20 Years Time (2013) Habitat Type Change Change Area Area Area from from (ha) (ha) (ha) Present Present Predominantly Conifer Woodland 223 219 -4 215 -8 Predominantly Broadleaf Woodland 40 40 0 40 0 Heathland 37 41 4 45 8 Wooded Heath 0 0 0 0 0

Open Water Habitat 00000 10 Years

Other Open Space 1 1 0 1 0

Total Land Area 301 301 0 301 0 Conifer Woodland

Broadleaf Woodland

Mixed Woodlan d Streamsides/Wet Woodland Woodland Structure Heathland/Mire

50 Wooded Heath 40 Other Open Space

30 2013 Ha 20 In 20 Years time

20 Years 0 0-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 > 80 Tree Age Class

| Purbeck FDP | May 2013 | South Forest District NEW 107 Design Concept Gradual conversion to broadleaf woodland ± through thinning to remove conifers to link with Yellowham Wood Puddletown Forest . Illustrates the main features and broad character of the forest in the long term

Legend .! Scheduled Ancient Monument managed through approved plan /" Unscheduled Ancient Monument Bridleway Byway open to all traffic Footpath Heathland ride management Yellowham Wood Forest roads Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Conifer woodland sustained by a cycle of clear felling, replanting and ]]]]thinning. Woodland will contain a mosaic of open spaces and ]]]]a diversity of species and age classes to enhance the visual quality. Broadleaf woodland to be sustained mainly by natural regeneration to provide a permanent tree cover but at the same time providing a variety of different age and canopy heights. Some small scale FF F FF felling and replanting may take place where conditions are unsuitable F for natural regeneration. Any conifers will be removed over time through thinning or group felling Felling and replanting to be shaped to enhance landform Continuous cover mixed woodland sustained by thinning and natural .! FFF . i Fregeneration to produce a permanent tree cover but at the same .! FFFFF i F .! .! ii time providing a variety of different age and canopy heights. FFF Continuous cover conifer woodland sustained by thinning and ] ] .! ]] ]] natural regeneration to produce a permanent tree cover but at the ] ]]]] ]]] ] ]same time providing a variety of different age and canopy heights. Roman Road to be kept clear of scrub and tree regeneration. Development of broadleaved fringe Heathland - areas managed and maintained as open heathland. .! will be encouraged. Wooded Heath - areas managed as heathland but with up to 20% tree cover in either isolated groups or individual character trees. Areas ¨ have been designated as wooded heath either for landscape purposes ¨¨ ] ¨]¨]¨ or because the area contains a high conifer seed bank that would be Hardy's cottage (National Trust) ] difficult to eradicate in the medium to long term and hence meet the .! criteria for pure heathland. Grassland - area maintained as open grassland Agricultural land Car park / buildings .! Thorncombe Wood .! .! Mature conifer stands to be .! retained. to preserve diverse . .! woodland age structure Rainbarrows

Restoration of heathland habitats to .! provide landscape setting for Rainbarrows and extend and link heathland fragments .! on adjacent land

Approved by:

Deputy Surveyor: Conservator: Date: Date:

0 0.5 1 km Map date: 2 May 2013 Forester South Forest District NEW 107 Felling and Habitat Management Puddletown Forest Illustrates timing of felling and management proposals within period of plan

c g Legend BE 15 Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) managed according to d c h b k .! DF/- Open h CP/- BE/JL/OK/~ approved SAM Plan 99/- DF BE/- 57/- 57/57/57/~ f 60 15/- n d DF/- a DF BI /" Unscheduled Ancient Monument - protect during forest operations 1001 46/- m DF/MB 60 60 10Ha Car Pk/Picnic 65/65 c j Heathland ride management XB/CP JL e 95/57 i 57 l MC 1002 BI/JL DF Sub-Compartments i 59 92/92 57 CP/BE a 29Ha 53/53 DF/BI Rhododendron Mile Compartments 87/87 e a DF b e DF/- 28 BE/OK DF/MB 92/- Manage rhododendron to prevent spread Forest roads 53/47 65/65 and encroachment into adjacent woodland g g Felling period 2007-2011 BE d 1004 SP and heathland. i 42 f 53 g b f 29Ha CP OK/- CP DF 42 Felling period 2012-2016 80 h 99/- l 86 CP g d CP j j c 92 80 Open DF/- Felling period 2017-2021 CP 80/- o d d 86 CP/BE/NS/~ q i SC/- CP i k 53/53/53/~ Open CP Felling period 2022-2026 99/- 80 Open j d l m 80 g Open CP/- CP OK/- e 92 e Felling period 2027-2031 a g 27/- 99/- CP/- DF/- CP/BE/NS Open e 99/- 80/- k k f 53/53/53 CP/- .!p Felling period 2032-2036 DF/- h k 54/- g .!Open k BE 27/- Felled j .! .!l CP/- CP/SP 55 e Open Felling period 2037-2041 99/- 37/37 k Roman road to be kept clear of scrub Open d and tree regeneration. Allow a fringe of b i c .! g Open f Felling period 2042-2046 CP/NS/BE/~ CP/BI/NS/~ Open broadleaves to develop along edge a DF/- DF a 55/55/55/~ 55/55/55/~ CP 77/- 27 of site. Felling period 2047 & beyond 26 1007 h a ]] ] ] Manage for continuous cover of conifer using a uniform or group 1003 47Ha DF h ] ] j 88 Open ]] i f b i ] ] 39Ha NS/CP/- ]]] ]] ] shelterwood system to promote natural regeneration. NS/CP/- SP 1006 Arch .! ] 55/55/- DF/- ] 55/55/- 1005 26 33Ha90/- ]F Manage for continuous cover of mixed woodland using a uniform 29Ha ] F n a F shelterwood system to promote natural regeneration. CP/NS/- a DF FFF c b F 67/67/- 81 Open CP c Manage for continuous cover of broadleaves using a uniform 86 b f DF/- ! F shelterwood system to promote natural regeneration. Any 77/- . FFF F f FF F f a k F remaining conifers to be removed through phased thinning treatments. Open SP/- CP/- f DF/- n 85/- JJ 55/- c Open 77/- g m JJMire (Bog/Marsh) - Remove/keep clear of trees/scrub. Restore h Open b J CP/DF/- e SP/- Unprod J Open 96/94/- Open b 26/- hydrological system using drain blocking and bedlevel raising where d J a DF/- Open Jrequired. Graze where possible. 25/- J m o 1010 Open SP 33Ha Streamside Corridors – Manage in accordance with 25 .! f .! a b the Forests and Water Guidelines SP h 25 DF/SP Open 85/85 .! 1008 g Grassland 24Ha c DF CP/- 25 ! d Heathland - Restore and maintain heathland using traditional heathland . b 25/- i DF Open h -/SP/XB/~ management techniques where possible including grazing, controlled .! 80 CP/- -/85/85/~ c 92/- DF/-/DF/~ burning, bracken control and gorse swiping. k 97/-/85/~ e f -/BI/SP/~ ]Heavily thin to produce heathland flora by retaining wide, irregularly CP -/85/42/~ DF/SP j ¨] l 26/26 ] ¨ e a 92 CP CP/SP ¨]¨ spaced groups and individual character trees CP DF 25 43/43 82 91 a e DF Agricultural Land managed by tenancy agreement CP/- 80 b 25/- d Managed by Perenco j .! DF Open 1009 84 g Felled areas to be restocked by planting or natural regeneration 28Hac SP i Open 42 g CP/- b h .! 77/- CP/-/SP Car park / buildings d 42/-/42 SP/BI/CP m 2006/2006/2006 Open b DF/CP/- 77/77/- Approved by:

Deputy Surveyor: Conservator: Date: Date:

0 0.5 1 km Map date: 2 May 2013

ManagementRestockSecond Rotation South Forest District NEW 107 ± Restocking Plan Puddletown Forest

Indicative of the structure of the woodlands at the end of the plan period

Legend Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) managed according to .! approved SAM Plan /" Unscheduled Ancient Monument - protect during forest operations Forest roads ]]] Replant with firs ]]] ]]] Replant with pines FFF F F FFFFF ]]]F Natural regeneration of broadleaf woodland F FF FF ] F] Natural regeneration of mixed woodland ]F F ] ] Natural regeneration of conifer woodland ]] ]¨ ] ] ]¨] ]] ¨ ] Wooded heath ]¨ ] ¨ ¨ Heathland Grassland Car park / buildings Agriculture

.! .! .! .! .!

Note: Restock maps indicate the likely dominant species type within a coupe. In reality, coupes may contain a mixture of different species / components. In order to adapt to climate change and provide a .! degree of protection against disease, coupes will be restocked with a suitable species mix suited to local site conditions. .! Due to the uncertain position with Red Band Needle Blight, and the current FC moratorium on replanting Corsican Pine, no restocking will take place using Corsican Pine.

Approved by:

Deputy Surveyor: Conservator: Date: Date:

0 0.5 1 km Map date: 2 May 2013