Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
Scottish Lowlands Forest District Glasgow Woods
Land Management Plan
Approval date: ***
Plan Reference No: ****
Plan Approval Date: *****
Plan Expiry Date: ******
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
CSM 6 Appendix 1b FOREST ENTERPRISE - Application for Land Management Plan Approvals in Scotland
Forest Enterprise - Property
Forest District: Scottish Lowlands Woodland or property name: Glasgow Woods Nearest town, village or locality: Tollcross, Drumchapel & Easterhouse OS Grid reference(s): NS 639 625, NS 521 721 & NS 677 662 Local Authority district/unitary Authority: Glasgow City Council
Areas for approval Conifer Broadleaf Clear felling n/a n/a Selective felling n/a n/a Restocking n/a n/a New planting (complete appendix 4) - 3.2
1. I apply for Land Management Plan approval*/amendment approval* for the property described above and in the enclosed Land Management Plan.
2. * I apply for an opinion under the terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 for afforestation* /deforestation*/ roads*/ quarries* as detailed in my application.
3. I confirm that the initial scoping of the plan was carried out with FC staff on
4. I confirm that the proposals contained in this plan comply with the UK Forestry Standard.
5. I confirm that the scoping, carried out and documented in the Consultation Record attached, incorporated those stakeholders which the FC agreed must be included.
6. I confirm that consultation and scoping has been carried out with all relevant stakeholders over the content of the design plan. Consideration of all issues raised by stakeholders has been included in the process of plan preparation and the outcome recorded on the attached consultation record. I confirm that we have informed all stakeholders about the extent to which we have been able to address their concerns and, where it has not been possible to fully address their concerns, we have reminded them of the opportunity to make further comment during the public consultation process.
7. I undertake to obtain any permissions necessary for the implementation of the approved Plan.
Signed …………………………………… Signed…………………………………… Forest District Manager Conservator
District …Scottish Lowlands………..… Conservancy……Central………………
Date …………………………………… Date of Approval…………………………………
*delete as appropriate Date approval ends………………………………
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CSM 6 Appendix 4 FOREST ENTERPRISE - Application for Approval of Woodland Creation
1. Forest Enterprise – Property Forest District: Scottish Lowlands Woodland or property name: Glasgow Woods Nearest town, village or locality: Tollcross, Drumchapel & Easterhouse OS Grid reference: NS 639 625, NS 521 721, NS 677 662 Local Authority district/unitary Authority: Glasgow City Council
2. Proposed areas to nearest tenth of a hectare New Planting 3.2 Natural Colonisation - Open Ground - Total 3.2
3. Special areas and protected land Designation Area Name or Number Comments N/A N/A N/A
4. Proposal details of woodland creation Area Name or Gross P Year Spp Area Open Comments number Area (Ha) Ground (Ha) (Ha) Drumchapel – Enhance biodiversity & 2.4 2017 MB – (W7, W8, W9 type) 2.3 - Garscadden Ext & Wood landscaping Drumchapel – Low growing scrub for 0.3 2017 MB – (W21, W22 type) 0.3 - Garscadden Wood screening & biodiversity To expand green Easterhouse – West 0.5 2017 MB – (W7 type) 0.5 - network and enhance Maryston noise buffer
I apply for authority to create woodland as above and as shown on the attached map. I undertake to obtain the necessary permissions from the appropriate statutory body before commencing work under any approval which is granted.
Signed …………………………………… Signed…………………………………… Forest District Manager Conservator
District …………………………………… Conservancy……………………………
Date …………………………………… Approval Date…………………………………
Date approval ends………………………………
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Contents
Summary of Proposals ...... 10
Introduction: ...... 11
Section A: Auchenshuggle
A1.1 Setting and context ...... 13 A1.2 History of the site ...... 13 A2.0 Analysis of previous plan ...... 14 A3.0 Background information ...... 14 A3.1 Physical site factors ...... 14 A3.1.1 Geology, soils and landform ...... 14 A3.1.2 Climate...... 15 A3.1.3 Exposure (DAMS) ...... 15 A3.1.4 Hydrology ...... 15 A3.2 The existing woodland ...... 15 A3.2.1 Age structure ...... 15 A3.2.3 Yield Class ...... 17 A3.2.4 Access ...... 18 A3.2.5 LISS potential ...... 18 A3.2.6 Pathogens ...... 18 A3.2.6.1 Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback) ...... 18 A3.2.6.2 Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) ...... 18 A3.2.7 Current and potential markets ...... 19 A3.3 Landscape and land use ...... 19 A3.3.1 Landscape character and value ...... 19 A3.3.2 Visibility ...... 20 A3.3.3 Neighbouring land use ...... 20 A3.4 Biodiversity and Heritage ...... 20 A3.4.1 Biodiversity ...... 20 A3.4.1.1 Local Habitat Action Plans ...... 20 A3.4.1.2 Local Habitat Statement ...... 21 A3.4.1.3 Invasive species ...... 21 A3.4.2 Designations ...... 21 A3.4.2.1 Local Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (L-SINC) ...... 21 A3.4.3 Heritage ...... 21 A3.4.3.1 Archaeology ...... 21 A3.5 Utilities ...... 22 A3.6 Community & Recreation ...... 22 A4.0 Analysis and Concept ...... 22
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A5.0 Management Proposals ...... 26 A5.1 Woodland Management ...... 26 A5.1.1 Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) ...... 26 A5.2 Future habitats and species ...... 29 A5.2.1 Woodland habitat ...... 29 A5.3 Biodiversity & Heritage ...... 31 A5.3.1 Deadwood habitat ...... 31 A5.3.2 Invasive species ...... 32 A5.3.3 Wildlife Management ...... 32 A5.3.4 Heritage ...... 33 A5.4 Community & Recreation ...... 33 A5.4.1 Community ...... 33 A5.4.2 Recreation ...... 34 A5.5 Access ...... 34 A5.5.1 Visitor ...... 34 A5.5.2 Management ...... 34 A5.6 Critical Success Factors ...... 34
Section B: Drumchapel
B1.1 Setting and context ...... 35 Table B1 Current land usage ...... 36 B1.2 History of the site ...... 36 B2.0 Analysis of previous plan ...... 37 B3.0 Background information ...... 37 B3.1 Physical site factors ...... 37 B3.1.1 Geology Soils and landform ...... 37 B3.1.2 Climate...... 38 B3.1.3 Exposure (DAMS) ...... 38 B3.1.4 Hydrology ...... 38 B3.2 The existing woodland ...... 38 B3.2.1 Age structure, species and yield class ...... 38 Table B2 Age Structure ...... 39 B3.2.2 Ancient Woodland ...... 41 B3.2.3 Access ...... 41 B3.2.4 LISS potential ...... 41 B3.2.5 Current and potential markets ...... 41 B3.2.6 Pathogens ...... 42 B3.2.6.1 Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) ...... 42 B3.2.6.2 Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) ...... 42 B3.2.6.3 Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback) ...... 42 B3.3 Landscape and land use ...... 42
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B3.3.1 Landscape character and value ...... 42 B3.3.2 Visibility ...... 44 B3.3.3 Neighbouring land use ...... 44 B3.4 Biodiversity and Heritage ...... 44 B3.4.1 Biodiversity ...... 44 B3.4.1.1 Local Habitat Action Plans ...... 44 B3.4.1.2 Local Habitat Statements ...... 44 B3.4.1.3 Local Species Action Plans ...... 45 B3.4.1.4 Invasive Species ...... 45 B3.4.2 Designations ...... 45 B3.4.2.1 Local Nature Reserves (LNR) ...... 45 Garscadden Wood ...... 45 B3.4.2.2 City Wide Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (C-SINC) ...... 46 B3.4.2.3 Local Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (L-SINC) ...... 46 B3.4.3 Heritage ...... 47 B3.4.3.1 Antonine Wall – World Heritage Site & Scheduled Monument ...... 47 B3.4.3.2 Non-scheduled archaeology ...... 47 B3.5 Utilities ...... 47 B3.6 Community & Recreation ...... 47 B3.6.1 Community ...... 47 B3.6.2 Recreation ...... 47 B4.0 Analysis and Concept ...... 48 B5.0 Management Proposals ...... 52 B5.1 Woodland Management ...... 52 B5.1.1 Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) ...... 52 B5.1.1.1 Cleddan’s Burn & Garscadden Extension ...... 53 B5.1.1.2 Garscadden Wood ...... 53 B5.2 Future habitats and species ...... 54 B5.2.1 Woodland habitat ...... 54 B5.2.1.1 Prescriptions ...... 55 B5.2.2 Open land (see Appendix B[x]) ...... 56 B5.3 Biodiversity & Heritage ...... 56 B5.3.1 Deadwood ...... 56 B5.3.2 Invasive species ...... 57 B5.3.3 Wildlife Management ...... 58 B5.3.4 Heritage ...... 58 B5.4 Community & Recreation ...... 58 B5.4.1 Community ...... 59 B5.4.2 Recreation ...... 59 B5.5 Access ...... 59 B5.5.1 Visitor ...... 59 B5.5.2 Management ...... 59
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B5.6 Critical Success Factors ...... 60
Section C: Easterhouse
C1.1 Setting and context ...... 62 Table C1 Current land usage ...... 62 C1.2 History of the site ...... 62 C2.0 Analysis of previous plan ...... 63 C3.0 Background information ...... 63 C3.1 Physical site factors ...... 63 C3.1.1 Geology Soils and landform ...... 63 C3.1.2 Climate ...... 64 C3.1.3 Exposure (DAMS) ...... 64 C3.1.4 Hydrology ...... 64 C3.2 The existing forest ...... 64 C3.2.1 Age structure, species and yield class ...... 64 Table C3 Age Structure ...... 65 C3.2.2 Ancient Woodland ...... 67 C3.2.3 Access ...... 67 C3.2.4 LISS potential ...... 67 C3.2.5 Current and potential markets ...... 67 C3.2.6 Pathogens ...... 68 C3.2.6.1 Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) ...... 68 C3.2.6.2 Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) ...... 68 C3.2.6.3 Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback) ...... 68 C3.3 Landscape and landuse ...... 68 C3.3.1 Landscape character and value ...... 68 C3.3.2 Visibility ...... 69 C3.3.3 Neighbouring land use ...... 70 C3.4 Biodiversity and environmental designations ...... 70 C3.4.1 Biodiversity ...... 70 C3.4.1.1 Local Habitat Action Plans ...... 70 C3.4.1.2 Local Habitat Statement ...... 71 C3.4.1.3 Local Species Action Plans ...... 71 C3.4.2 Designations ...... 72 C3.4.2.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ...... 72 Bishop Loch ...... 72 C3.4.2.2 Local Nature Reserves (LNR) ...... 72 Bishop Loch ...... 72 Cardowan Moss ...... 72 C3.4.2.3 City Wide Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (C-SINC) ...... 73 Bishop Loch ...... 73
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Cardowan Moss & Cardowan Drain ...... 73 Todd’s Well ...... 73 C3.5 Heritage ...... 73 C3.5.1 Non-scheduled archaeology ...... 73 C3.6 Community & Recreation ...... 74 C3.6.1 Community ...... 74 C3.6.2 Recreation ...... 74 C4.0 Analysis and Concept ...... 74 C5.0 Management Proposals ...... 87 C5.1 Woodland Management ...... 87 C5.1.1 Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) ...... 87 C5.1.1.1 All Easterhouse Woods...... 88 C5.2 Future habitats and species ...... 88 C5.2.1 Woodland habitat ...... 88 C5.2.1.1 Prescriptions ...... 89 C5.2.2 Open land ...... 89 C5.3 Biodiversity & Heritage ...... 90 C5.3.1 Deadwood ...... 90 C5.3.2 Invasive species ...... 91 C5.3.3 Wildlife management...... 91 C5.3.4 Heritage ...... 91 C5.4 Community & Recreation ...... 91 C5.4.1 Community ...... 92 C5.4.2 Recreation ...... 92 C5.5 Access ...... 92 C5.5.1 Visitor ...... 92 C5.5.2 Management ...... 92 C5.6 Critical Success Factors ...... 93
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Appendices:
Appendix I(A): Auchenshuggle Consultation Record Appendix I(B): Drumchapel Consultation Record Appendix I(C): Easterhouse Consultation Record Appendix II(A): Auchenshuggle General Management & Potential Projects Table Appendix II(B): Drumchapel General Management & Potential Projects Table Appendix II(C): Easterhouse General Management & Potential Projects Table Appendix III: Tolerance Table Appendix IV: Management Plan Brief Appendix V: Objective Appraisal, Monitoring & Evaluation Appendix VI: Maps Appendix VII: Related Documents
Version History Version Date Comments 1.0 12.05.2015 Initial draft 1.1 18.05.2015 Revised following district staff review 1.2 28.07.2015 Comments made and responded to from period on public register. Addition of OS Grid references to CSM 1b 1.3 29.09.2015 Additional Comments from statutory stakeholders supplied by Central Scotland Conservancy.
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Summary of Proposals Following the purchase of Auchenshuggle Wood and taking over the management of the Drumchapel and Easterhouse Woods on 10 year lease from Glasgow City Council, a new Land Management Plan has been produced amalgamating the management proposals for each site within one document.
The sites cover approximately 160 ha consisting of predominantly broadleaved woodland but also including a small proportion of conifer species as well as areas of open ground. This design maintains woodland coverage with any small scale woodland clearance for habitat benefit balanced by small scale planting to enhance views, landscape and biodiversity potential. This plan also maintains the existing species diversity across the sites and aims to develop the relatively young crops to allow future age restructuring using low impact silvicultural systems which are an alternative to clearfelling.
Being located within the Greater Glasgow Conurbation the woodlands serve the various communities that surround them and as such this plan has been carefully designed to make the most of existing and future opportunities to improve access and recreation in these woods enhancing the attraction and enjoyment of these woods for those communities and beyond.
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Introduction: Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan details the management tasks and proposals to be applied at Auchenshuggle, Drumchapel and Easterhouse woodlands both for the 10 year approval period of the plan and beyond. Auchenshuggle Wood is part of the National Forest Estate with Drumchapel and Easterhouse woods owned by Glasgow City Council (GCC). Drumchapel and Easterhouse are currently managed by Forest Enterprise Scotland under a 10 year lease agreement with GCC which ends on 28th October 2020.
After 5 years the plan will be subject to review.
Located within the Greater Glasgow Conurbation (see map 1 – Glasgow Woods Location) and therefore being within 1 kilometre of settlements with populations of 2000 people these sites qualify for the Woodlands In And Around Towns (WIAT) programme which aims to improve the quality of life in towns and cities and as such will be designed and managed accordingly. This plan delivers on various objectives specific to the individual sites, influenced by the district strategic priorities which are guided by the “Key Aspirations” of the Scottish Forest Strategy (see Appendix IV - Management Plan Brief).
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Glasgow Woods
Section A:
Auchenshuggle
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A1.1 Setting and context Auchenshuggle Wood is a 4.3 hectare woodland split into two compartments separated by a disused tarmac road running north-south through the site. Situated in the south east of Glasgow adjacent to Junction 2A of the M74 extension the wood is bordered to the North and East by the busy A74, London Road with associated retail and hospitality units as well as some residential housing. To the west the wood is bordered by the partially developed Clyde Gateway East business park and to the south by the recently completed M74 extension. The River Clyde flows to the south along which runs the River Clyde Walkway. The neighbouring residential communities are Cambuslang (to the south), Carmyle (to the east) and Fullarton (to the north). The wood is presently only formally accessed from two entrances along London Road and no car-parking is provided on site. Due to the busy London Road the wood is not particularly well linked to the local residential areas, but it does represent a rare woodland green-space close to the Clyde in a dense urban area, with consequently high WIAT promotion potential. The woodland is not on an ancient woodland site but is classified locally as a SINC (site of importance for nature conservation) for its habitats and setting.
The current land matrix is as follows:
Table A1 Current land usage Land use Area (ha) %age Existing Broadleaved Mixed Woodland 4.20 97.7 Footpaths and former road 0.10 2.3 Total 4.3 100% of which Wayleaves (UG Gas) 0.01 - Wayleaves (Water pipe) 0.03 -
See Maps A1 –Location & A4d - Context
A1.2 History of the site Formerly the western area of the site was part of Fullarton House Estate and its surrounding grounds, with only a small area of woodland at the westernmost point. The woodlands comprise remnant lime, beech, oak, sycamore, ash etc. of the house policies and pioneer regeneration of crack willow and ash etc. of the paddock, gardens and orchards which has arisen since the house was demolished between 1912 and 1934. The remains of the roads which once bordered the estate are still visible with the exception of London Road, which is still the main road into Glasgow from the M74. Relics of
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the estate can also still be seen e.g. the boundary stone wall and the veteran estate trees. The Eastern area of the site was part of a larger area of entirely open land, now Cambuslang Investment Park. The construction of Fullarton Road dissected the land and the Eastern area of the site formed.
Auchenshuggle became the property of the British Steel Corporation as part of the complex at Clyde Iron Works/Clydebridge. The Scottish Development Agency (SDA) acquired the land and ownership was later transferred to the Glasgow Development Agency (both now Scottish Enterprise (SE)). The official title of Auchenshuggle Wood was apparently bestowed by the SE because of the wood's proximity to the old Auchenshuggle tram terminus. While it was still the SDA, the site was leased to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers whose Scottish arm became independent in 1984 as Scottish Conservation Projects who undertook a series of low key improvements. These included installing footpaths, kissing gates and locked vehicle gates at the entrances, sign boarding and erecting fencing along the western boundary. Forestry Commission Scotland took over the lease to manage the woodland for one year in 2007 and went on to purchase the wood outright in 2012.
A2.0 Analysis of previous plan There was no previous plan for this wood.
A3.0 Background information
A3.1 Physical site factors
A3.1.1 Geology, soils and landform The underlying geology of the site is of Scottish Carboniferous Middle Coal Measures (see Map A2a – Bedrock Geology). These typically comprise interbedded sandstones, siltstones and mudstones with numerous coal horizons. Glasgow Upper Coal outcrops on site overlain by natural superficial Raised Marine Deposits consisting of intertidal and subtidal silts and clays with deltaic sand and beach sand and gravel which drain well with localised areas of made ground (see Map A2b – Superficial Geology). This underlying mix of parent material gives rise to generally well-drained brown forest soil that are suited to grow a wide variety of tree species. The site is generally flat with the highest point being 20m above sea level (ASL). The Coal Authority data indicates a former mine entry (ref: 264662-007) is located in the south-east of the wood (Grid ref: NS 640625) (see Map A3d - Utilities) within an area of probable previous shallow coal mine workings. There are no visible remains of
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this mine entry but heavy machinery should not be operated in this area without further investigation by specialists.
Based on the James Hutton Institute Land Capability for Forestry classifications, as one might expect given its location, Auchenshuggle falls under Class 888 - Built up areas, quarries & bings (see Maps A2d – Land Capability for Forestry).
A3.1.2 Climate Auchenshuggle falls within the Warm, Moist Climatic zone with Accumulated Temperature (day-degrees above 5 °C, a measure of growing season length) varying between 1450 and 1460 (1200 representing the dividing point between Cool & Warm) (see Maps A3a – Accumulated Temperature & A3b – Moisture Deficit).
A3.1.3 Exposure (DAMS) Detailed Aspect Method Scoring (DAMS) is a measure of windiness of a site using the angle to the horizon in the eight compass points, weighted towards the prevailing wind direction. Scores range from 0-24: The higher the score the greater the exposure, with scores below 13 regarded as sheltered and above 22 as too high for commercial forestry. DAMS on the site scores 13 (13-15 = moderately exposed, 16-17 = highly exposed), with scores generally increasing with elevation (see Map A3c - DAMS).
A3.1.4 Hydrology There are no watercourses running within the site and despite the woodlands location just north of the River Clyde it would not appear to drain into the river. The nearest surface water feature is Battle Burn located just west of the site however as this feature is not visible it is assumed to be culverted beneath the adjacent land. Information from SEPA indicates that the water quality of Battle Burn is of fair quality. There is a water main found within the wood which runs from the south-east to the north-west across the eastern compartment for approx. 150m and out on to London Road and then runs out with the wood for just under 100m before again running within the wood along the northern edge of the western compartment next to the footpath for approx. 200m.
A3.2 The existing woodland
A3.2.1 Age structure At the time of writing this plan the woodland has a relatively varied age structure with just under half of the woodland being old forest or mature high forest whilst the remainder of the woodland is at the thicket & pole stage with
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some regeneration, particularly ash, in the understory. The canopy structure is not all that varied with the various age components of the woods being situated in particular area such as the old and mature high forest tending towards the historic Fullarton Avenue area and the thicket and pole stage willow dominant in others or to a lesser extent areas of ash and associated regeneration.
Table A2 Age Structure Age of Trees (years) Successional Stage Area (ha) % 0-10 Establishment 0.04 1 11-20 Early Thicket 0 0 21-40 Thicket & Pole Stage 2.28 55 41-60 Mature High Forest 0.58 14 61+ Old Forest 1.25 30
Figure A1 Age Structure Breakdown
1.6 1.4
1.2 Birc h 1 Lime Other Broadleaves 0.8 Poplar 0.6 Area (Ha) Area S y c a mo re 0.4 Willow 0.2 0 0-10 11-20 21-40 41-60 61+
Establishment Early Thic ket Thicket/Pole Mature High Old Forest Forest Succcessional Stage
A3.2.2 Species Structure Auchenshuggle is a broadleaf wood comprised of various species which can be seen in table A3 below. As part of the other broadleaves element there are species such as Ash, Beech, Cherry, Horse Chestnut, Oak, Rowan and Swedish Whitebeam. There is also a small area of Scots pine which adds some colour in the winter as well as a several other conifers. The aim of this plan is to retain the diverse range of species but reduce the dominance of the willow species and augment the evergreen element to add some welcome winter colour.
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Table A3 Species Structure Species Area (ha) % Birch 0.68 16 Lime 0.2 5 Other Broadleaves 1.1 27 Poplar 0.55 13 Sycamore 0.26 6 Willow 1.36 33
Figure A2 - Current Species Structure Breakdown
16%
33% Birc h 5% Lime Other Broadleaves Poplar Sycamore
27% Willow 6%
13%
A3.2.3 Yield Class Yield classes across the site range from 2-8 with 60% of the trees being of YC8.
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A3.2.4 Access The woodland is currently accessible via 2 formal entrances both off of A74, London Road. The western entrance is just back from the pavement and has a spring locked metal gate. This entrance is adjacent to the entrance to the Clyde Gateway East Business Park and is served by a small parking bay capable of holding 5 or 6 cars. A gravel/ash footpath leads from this entrance along the northern edge of the wood by the stone boundary wall and meets the second entrance point and the end of this wall. Here there is a wooden kissing gate which allows entry in the vicinity of the former thoroughfare (which is still present within the wood) running south along the edge of the former Fullarton House Estate grounds.
The existing footpath network allows for recreational use of the woods by the local community mostly by dog walkers. With proposed further development of Clyde Gateway East Business Park as well as potential retail developments north of London Road along with the existing retail, restaurant and hotel units east of the site across the junction of London Road and Fullarton Road improved accessibility to these woods would be prudent.
A3.2.5 LISS potential This site is suited to low impact systems as it is a stable site with restricted access to large harvesting machinery. The nature of the crop is also suited to LISS having a varied age and species structure.
A3.2.6 Pathogens
A3.2.6.1 Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback) Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by a fungus, resulting in leaf loss, crown dieback and, potentially, tree death. At present there is no infection within Auchenshuggle however as ash forms a significant portion of the mixed broadleaves in the wood and is regenerating well if Chalara was to hit it would have a significant impact.
A3.2.6.2 Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) DNB also known as Red Band Needle Blight because of the colourful symptoms it shows on pine, causes premature needle defoliation, resulting in loss of yield and, in severe cases, tree death. There are no infected trees within the wood at present and if DNB were to infect the site it would not have a significant impact with only a small element of pine affected which could be succeeded by broadleaves although any decline of the conifer element would be a loss to the wood.
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A3.2.7 Current and potential markets Thinnings from the crop of mixed broadleaves could provide for the firewood market as well as for more niche local hardwood sawmillers although access for timber transportation may present challenges.
A3.3 Landscape and land use
A3.3.1 Landscape character and value Auchenshuggle sits within a very visually diverse, smooth yet irregular landscape due the nature of its highly populated urban setting characterised by a complex matrix of roads, residential housing as well as business and retail parks. The woodlands are perceived on the small scale due to the smooth, almost flat, landform of the area.
In terms of SNH’s Landscape Character Assessment, the site is classed as Urban Greenspace. Relevant extracts from the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Landscape Character Assessment are shown below in Figure A3:
Figure A3 Land Character Assessment
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A3.3.2 Visibility Located between a motorway and a heavily used A-class road and within an industrial, retail and residential setting the woodland sits as a green island within this. Despite the distinction between the woodland and its surrounds the woodland is not particularly visible from many points in the vicinity. The topography of the area is relatively flat and therefore views of the wood are blocked by the built-up landscape. Subsequently the woodland is only visible to those living or working in close proximity with a direct line of site of the wood or by motorists or pedestrians travelling along the M74 motorway or London Road.
A3.3.3 Neighbouring land use The surrounding landscape is a built up urban one being within the Greater Glasgow Conurbation. To the west there is a partially developed business park, to the north industrial and retail units along with residential properties. To the east there is restaurant and further retail units and to the south there is the River Clyde and the M74 motorway.
A3.4 Biodiversity and Heritage
A3.4.1 Biodiversity
A3.4.1.1 Local Habitat Action Plans Glasgow City Council have two Local Habitat Action Plans (LHAP) which influence management at Auchenshuggle; the LHAP on Boundary Features
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(hedgerows, walls & ditches) aims to maintain the quality and quantity of boundary features, protect features of conservation value and bring derelict features into appropriate management. The remnant hawthorn and beech hedgerows and the old estate boundary wall are relevant to this aim. The relevant aims of the LHAP on Broadleaved and Mixed Woodland to Auchenshuggle are to ensure the ecological value of broadleaved and mixed woodland is improved and to promote woodland for socio-economic and public amenity benefits
A3.4.1.2 Local Habitat Statement Glasgow City Council have a Local Habitat Statement on Built Up Areas and Gardens which aims to raise awareness of biodiversity and help ensure that built up areas such as those surrounding Auchenshuggle are managed in a more sustainable way, following best practice. Relevant objectives to Auchenshuggle listed in the statement include; promoting the implementation of sympathetic and sustainable management practices, raising awareness and understanding of biodiversity in the wider community and encouraging public participation in the implementation of biodiversity activities.
A3.4.1.3 Invasive species With its proximity to residential areas and because of some issues with fly- tipping of garden waste Auchenshuggle has been affected by the influx of the highly invasive exotic plant Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) which is aggressive and forms dense stands that exclude other plants; and Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) which produces berries poisonous to humans. If these species were left unchecked they could pose a risk of colonising substantial areas to the detriment of native flora and fauna.
A3.4.2 Designations
A3.4.2.1 Local Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (L-SINC) Glasgow City Council has designated 49 L-SINC’s for the benefit of conserving various habitats and/or species of importance to its locality.
Auchenshuggle is of local importance for its role in supporting mature planted trees.
A3.4.3 Heritage
A3.4.3.1 Archaeology There are no Scheduled Monuments or any other heritage designations listed within the wood. There are remnants of the foundations of what is thought to have been the wages office of the former Clyde Ironworks to the south east.
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There are also two associated concrete lampposts and a set of concrete steps. There is also a sandstone wall running along both the northern edge of the wood and London Road but also within the wood which would have been part of the surrounding wall of the former Fullarton House Estate.
A3.5 Utilities Map A3d – Utilities shows the extent of the various utility infrastructures detailed throughout the site.
A3.6 Community & Recreation With its detached location the woodland isn’t immediately accessed by a surrounding residential population. Local residents from Auchenshuggle, Fullarton & Braidfauld have to walk several hundred yards and negotiate the busy A74 London Rd to access the site. Coupled with those issues the woodland has been neglected over the years and has had issues with litter and anti-social behaviour and as such currently this woodland is underutilised by the local community with only limited local use, mainly from dog walkers. People counters installed at the entrances suggest an estimated 12,000 visitors to the wood each year. A4.0 Analysis and Concept Using survey work and research, a broad range of factors were acknowledged and considered to recognise the site’s key features (see Maps A4a (i & ii)) which, informed by the objectives set out in the management plan brief (see Appendix IV) were used to identify the opportunities and constraints (see Map A4b) which exist within the management plan area and from there develop an initial concept (see Table A4 Analysis and Initial Concept Development below). This initial concept was then distilled further to produce a concept map (see Map A4c - Auchenshuggle Concept Map) which summarises the main aspirations and intentions for the management plan. This management concept formed the main basis for the public consultation held in November 2014.
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Table A4 Analysis and Initial Concept Development Factor Opportunity Constraint Initial Concept Development Timber • Market timber from • Operations may not be • Manage woods to create opportunity for small scale thinnings or economic regeneration of varied species. Modify the fellings to firewood • Reduced public / age structure of the woods toward a more processors and niche community access to balanced spread of growth phases. hardwood saw-millers woods during operations Identify and tend potential final crop trees • No access for timber as to promote good form benefiting the transport aesthetic of the wood and for potential • Road closures niche markets in the future. Retain a proportion of diverse formed trees as well to retain natural character. • Fell mature and wind prone poplar. Business development • Work with and support • Potential for conflicting • Encourage volunteer involvement with local social enterprises objectives of different small scale operations such as thinnings, and volunteer groups groups formative pruning or invasive species • Health and Safety removal. concerns using volunteers • Take advantage of the link with DC for small operations Thomson (Oor Wullie & The Broons) and/or with Tram heritage. Community development • Increase community • Difficulty in promoting the • Investigate/Identify potential partners for involvement in the wood to new users community projects such as a creation of woods • Cost of organising events a small scale orchard by Shettleston and activities Community Growing Project • Potential antisocial use of • Encourage local school groups and other the woods community groups to visit the woods (Forest schools etc) Access & Health • Encourage more visitors • Potential antisocial use of • Create new entrance points to better link to the wood particularly the woods surrounding developments and encourage from the developing linkage to Clyde Walkway business park to the west and the retail park to the north.
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• Cost of creating and • Improve paths to make them more maintaining entrances accessible to all. Improve and make safe and associated paths remnant structures such as old wall, tram
office incorporating them into new paths
and potential community spaces or art installation. Remove razor wire fencing to
reduce safety risk and improve access • Use signage to encourage users of • Enhance Green Link Walkway into the wood and vice versa. • Woodland is out of the way from the Clyde Walkway route Biodiversity • Remove invasive • Cost of operations and • Professional removal of Japanese species where monitoring knotweed appropriate • Enhance a varied tree • Small nature of such work • Encourage volunteers to carry out small age and species makes the operations scale re-spacing and removal of undesired structure unattractive to seedlings. contractors • Improve habitat • Isolation of the site and • Leave an element of timber from disconnect from other operations on site for dead wood to green space prohibits stimulate biodiversity up the food chain. species movement Landscape • Improve views into and • Risk of alienating users by • Manage the wood to maintain a broad within the wood. changing what they are range of tree species and age classes. used to. Stagger the thinning or felling of small • Diseases such as Chalara, coupes across site so as to allow for new should it arrive, could growth to come up allowing for age seriously alter the diversity and not creating unseemly holes aesthetic of the wood as in the wood. well as the age structure. • Remove wooden fence and replace with hedge or shrubs • Maintain good lines of site along paths
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• More conifers may detract • Plant a small amount of more conifers from the current particularly near to proposed new eastern character of the wood entrance to increase visual & structural • Augment the conifer diversity and provide more shelter. Create element for increased a Yew/Holly edge along the southern diversity boundary to screen views and noise from M74
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A5.0 Management Proposals
Due to the nature of the site many of the management proposals for Auchenshuggle are not solely the gift of FES to deliver as part of our regular management of our sites. Much of what is proposed for Auchenshuggle will be dependent on various factors such as the availability of suitable funding, consultation with neighbours/community, access agreements etc. Such proposals constitute possible future projects for FES to be delivered in partnership/agreement with others. Appendix II – General Management & Potential Projects Table highlights which aspects of the management of the site fall under our ‘general management functions’ and which might constitute a ‘potential future project’. The associated Maps A5d-e indicate where on the ground various tasks listed in Appendix II would be focused. The following section details the management proposals for the wood and where applicable refers to Appendix II and Maps A5d & e the former containing some general management tasks not detailed below.
A5.1 Woodland Management The proposals for this site have been produced based on sound silvicultural and environmental principles and follow the requirements, guidelines and recommendations set out within the UK Forestry Standard, the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme, FC Bulletin 124 Ecological Site Classification for Forestry and FC Bulletin 62 Silviculture of Broadleaved Woodland, FC Bulletin 115 Alternative Silvicultural Systems and the current FC edition of Forest and Water Guidelines.
A5.1.1 Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) Being that Auchenshuggle is a small urban wood with a significant proportion of older trees which has suffered from past neglect; and is in close proximity to airborne pollution from major trunk roads it may be fragile to being opened up too much in future. Despite this possible fragility the alternative which is to clearfell and replant is not considered appropriate due to the site’s size, its importance in the conservation of species and habitats associated with mature planted trees and its inestimable amenity value to the local community.
As the woodland functions primarily to provide general amenity and biodiversity value and is of mixed species; it is the intention to manage the woodland sensitively to those aspects. That being said as there are significant levels of, predominantly ash, natural regeneration across much of the site, it seems sensible to utilise this natural development and managing this with a
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view to developing its value as a timber crop need not conflict with the overriding aspiration for the site in providing community benefit.
In order to encourage the natural regeneration to develop into marketable timber whilst also developing a diverse wood the regeneration onsite will be utilised to create an irregular structure using the selection system of silviculture removing single or small groups of trees to provide suitable gaps in the canopy to encourage regeneration. This form of management will help provide a range of habitats for wildlife as well as texture and visual diversity for visitors.
The selection system, like a shelterwood system, will involve creating gaps in the canopy to encourage the regeneration on along with tending and re- spacing to eventually enable the identification of final crop trees of selected species for retention by way of crown thinnings of the stand every 7-10 years which will encourage long-term stand stability, improve stand health, enhance ground conditions for regeneration and in turn yield small volumes of timber and other forest products. In the surrounding matrix out-with any created gaps intermediate thinnings will allow the surrounding trees to gradually develop before they too eventually are removed to form a new gap. Table A5 below outlines an indicative silvicultural management timetable appropriate for managing the regenerating gaps although within the life of this plan only the initial stage interventions are relevant.
Table A5 Indicative Silvicultural Management Timetable to Manage Natural Regeneration
Stage H100 Interventions [m]* Establishment Utilise the Natural Regeneration (NR) from the existing mixed stand (predominantly Ash (AH) NR). Employ a continuous CCF group shelterwood system creating a suitable number of gaps ~30m wide as a patchwork over time leading to an irregular structure. The gaps will allow more light to the forest floor allowing the NR to get away. In creating the gaps stump back trees such as Crack Willow (XW) and Hazel (HAZ) so it will coppice back which will assist in drawing up the NR as well as functioning in bole cleaning and controlling light levels in the future. Young stand <2 Establishment of access lines if necessary. Differentiation and species selection are
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mainly regulated through interventions in the overstorey (light level management). Clear up felling damage to allow quick restocking. Shaping the leaders (AH forks) if necessary. Thicket stage 2 - 6 Keep stand dense to promote self-pruning and differentiation. Selective thinnings in the overstorey continues and provides rising light levels. Continued clearing of felling damage and formative pruning if required. 6 – 9 First quality assessment. Self-pruning continues due to the high stand density. Only wolf trees and trees with felling damage are to be removed. Pole stage 9 – 16 Closed canopy of young crop is to be maintained. Select up to 200 Final Crop (FC) tree candidates/ha and assess their competition status. Dominant individuals need no assistance, but co-dominant FC tree candidates may be supported by removal of 1- 3 competitors. This intervention should only improve the competition situation for FC tree candidates, but not interrupt the self-pruning and differentiation processes. Small timber stage 16 – Establish extraction line network. When 18 dominant trees have reached the desired length of branch-free bole (7-10m for AH), ~70-140 FC trees/ha are permanently selected and marked (in order to achieve between 40-60cm target dbh). The first and second thinning aim to release FC trees to encourage fast diameter growth. Release FC trees completely, removing competitors as well as smaller trees which may cause mechanical damage (whips). Groups of FC trees are not possible with AH. Timber stage >20 Interventions focus on FC trees, which must be kept free from crown competition. The envisaged understorey of (Sycamore (SY)/HAZ/XW/Beech (BE)) based on the current species mix is to be maintained in order to control ground vegetation and prevent epicormic growth, however secondary
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species trees (e.g. SY or BE) advancing into FC tree crown area must be removed. Final harvesting >30 Target diameter harvesting usually creates and regeneration favourable conditions for NR. Established NR needs to be assessed regarding its density, species composition and area cover. Continuation of the group shelterwood system. Planting and beating up with 3,000 - 5,000 plants/ha (pro rata) if NR fails or is insufficient.
* H100 represents the mean height of the 100 trees with the largest DBH within one hectare.
Having been a previously neglected site sustaining several older specimens there are various trees which require on-going monitoring of their potential risk to public safety. When individual trees become unsafe they will be removed. A small area of poplar on the western fringe next to the public road is already partially blowing over and as such this small group will be select felled at the earliest opportunity to minimise the risk to the motorists and pedestrians in future. Similarly, several sycamore which line the former road within the site are slowly destroying the former estate wall and need to be removed to prevent further damage.
All thinning decisions will be guided the Operational Guidance Booklet (OGB) 9 – Managing Thinning and the current SLFD Thinning Plan. CCF decisions will be guided by OGB 7 – Managing Continuous Cover Forests.
A5.2 Future habitats and species
A5.2.1 Woodland habitat The Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) characterises most of Auchenshuggle’s woodland as ‘Lowland mixed deciduous habitat’ however that only tells part of the story. Within such a small wood there are a variety of distinct areas such as the area of old forest with several veteran trees which retain a link to the former Fullarton Estate and its ‘policy’ character. To the south-west near the pond area, willow and alder offers some variation in character. Scots pine and a shelterbelt strip of poplar provide something different to the east. Future management through thinning and single tree selection will enhance the various elements to develop their character and provide visual diversity throughout the site (see Map A5c – Future Habitats & Species).
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The various areas which will be emphasised through appropriate thinning and regeneration/enrichment planting are:
Existing matrices
Mature ‘Policy’ – This area which runs north to south through the centre of the site as well as along either side of the former Fullarton Rd is characterised by several large beech, horse chestnut and sycamore all of similar age . There is currently little regeneration under the closed canopy and this area should be monitored for a good mast year to provide suitable levels of regeneration to warrant the creation of a gap in the canopy to facilitate its promotion. If regeneration of the surrounding species fails to establish enrichment planting of suitable species, protected by tubes, will be used.
Mixed fringe – This area which runs between the northern edge of the wood within the former estate wall and the footpath contains various native (e.g. oak, rowan, cherry, birch) and non-native species such as (e.g. Horse chestnut and Swedish Whitebeam). These species provide a variety of colours and textures from their leaves, blossoms, berries and seeds and this diverse edge should be maintained.
Willow/ash/birch - The area to the west, south west and into the heart of the wood is dominated by thicket and pole stage crack willow with some mature birch, ash and alder in the mix also. The ash is regenerating strongly on the ground and the woodland is dense in this area. About ⅓ to ½ of willow will be cut back as coppice in this area and allowed to grow back. The regenerating ash will be allowed to grow on and future re-spacing should develop a healthy ash component.
Conifer – To the east of the former Fullarton Rd just within the wooden fence there is a sporadic mix consisting of a group of Scots pine, some spruce, scrub willow, an over mature strip of poplar, some birch and scrub broom and gorse. The area is currently not easily accessed with no formal path or entrance however after future path network improvements this area will have the scrub broom and gorse cover reduced as well as the poplar removed for safety reasons to be replaced and enriched with suitable native species aspen and oak. The area of Scots pine should be of a more formal design with some enrichment planting to emphasise this area.
Hawthorn hedgerow – There is an unmanaged remnant hawthorn western edge at present, some enrichment of gaps as well as a defined trimming regime every 2 or 3 years will help consolidate this edge, shape the hedge and
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create the best conditions for the hedge to provide important habitat for wildlife. Cutting should be between January – February before the bird breeding season and allowing wildlife to take advantage of the autumnal berries (see Appendix II & Map A5d).
Proposed additional matrices
Community growing area – An as yet to be agreed area of the site may be used to provide a small area to be used as a growing area for the local community to plant and tend a site appropriate edible crop e.g. fruit trees, or shrubs which produce edible berries etc. Tests for potential heavy metals and/or toxins may be required before an area can be used for this purpose (see Appendix II & Map A5d).
Evergreen edge – At present the woodland lacks definition and a screening element along its central southern edge. Planting a yew and holly edge will create this definition (see Appendix II & Map A5d).
Beech hedgerow – The wooden stock fence which bounds the eastern edge of the wood is in disrepair and looks unkempt and unmanaged and allows litter to blow in unchecked from the surrounding area. A beech hedgerow will be planted along the fence to provide a better defined boundary to the wood, offer some barrier to litter blowing in, to present a more natural border to eventually replace the fence once it has established and to provide visual interest throughout the year (see Appendix II & Map A5d).
A5.3 Biodiversity & Heritage
A5.3.1 Deadwood habitat It is the aim to utilise natural processes retaining dead, windblown or snapped stems or those created during previous operations. Deadwood can be trees or limbs in the early stage of decomposition, e.g. veterans or dying individual trees. These should be retained wherever possible to create an even mix of standing, fallen or stacked deadwood.
It is the district policy to contribute around 20m3/ha of deadwood averaged across the whole woodland area in each forest block. This aspiration is dependent on the site type and long term objectives. At Auchenshuggle the deadwood potential has been estimated as low and as such the following SLFD policy approach should be adopted:
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. Retain veterans, standing & fallen dead stems and some stumps. . Harvest windblow only when it is economic or required to make the site safe. . Leave stems of no commercial value to die through shading. . If advised, create deadwood stacks and small retentions of live trees and shrubs, to a minimum of 3% of total stem volume.
This approach should be weighed against the health and safety implications in regard to priority visitor zoning areas detailed within the FC Practice Guide Managing Deadwood in Forests & Woodlands and appropriate steps should be taken to balance the approach above with public safety.
A5.3.2 Invasive species Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) - An eradication programme of Japanese knotweed is in place within affected sites across the district in accordance with the District Invasive Non-Native Species Plan 2014-2019. Control is initially through stem injection of glyphosate and then a follow up foliar spray or stem inject the next year. The next stage will be to re-cover the affected areas with appropriate species to prevent re-establishment. It is planned to rake and burn the remaining material after the follow up spray and to reseed or plant the ground.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) - The district plan for invasives does not include action on Snowberry however the appropriate treatment of cutting and spraying of re-growth with glyphosate can be tied in with the control of the Japanese knotweed with similar mitigation to discourage re-establishment (see Appendix II & Map A5e).
A5.3.3 Wildlife Management Within Auchenshuggle there is a small resident population of peri-urban roe deer which at present do minimal damage to the current crop. This small deer population may however have an impact on the establishment of any regenerating or enrichment planting. Due to Auchenshuggle’s proximity to roads, businesses and homes coupled with the irregular hours the woods can be visited, the site, along with the other Glasgow Woods, is not managed through sustainable culling; therefore the use of tree guards will most likely be the method employed to encourage establishment if natural generation proves unsuccessful. A point worth noting is that there is a possibility of motorists encountering deer crossing the A74 London Rd at night and this does represent a potential safety concern to the public.
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Further details on deer management within the Glasgow area can be found within the Scottish Lowlands Forest District Deer Management Strategy (in conjunction with the Deer Overview Map).
A5.3.4 Heritage There are no significant heritage features requiring specific management planning however the woodland’s connections with the former Fullarton House, still tangible through the stone boundary wall and the ‘policy’ element of the woodland, is a part of the site character which will be retained for as long as is safe and prudent. Whilst there won’t be any wholesale restoration of the wall, its present condition will be maintained and there would likely be safety improvements made in line with the proposed enhancement of the path network. All operations will be conducted in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard Guidelines on Forests and the Historic Environment (see Appendix II).
A5.4 Community & Recreation
FES district staff will liaise with the local community to promote and encourage use of the wood and Community Rangers will continue to seek opportunities to develop new and forge existing links with schools, community and user groups to increase awareness and enjoyment of the wood.
A5.4.1 Community With further development planned for the Clyde Gateway East Business Park to the west and proposed retail development to the north the creation of 2 new entrances and associated paths will improve connectivity between these developments and surrounding existing developments and amenities such as restaurants and shops through the woodland; encouraging growth in community use, interest and potentially involvement in the wood. The Clyde Walkway runs along the River Clyde to the south and there is an opportunity to link the woodland to the business park path that runs along the western edge of the wood and in turn link on to the Clyde Walkway and vice versa. Our Communities Recreation and Tourism team will continue to encourage local schools to use the woods which, it is hoped, will increase wider local interest in the wood. Opportunity exists to allude to the social heritage of the area such as the proximity to the former Clyde Ironworks or to the former Auchenshuggle Tram terminus which is something which could be explored and potentially developed.
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A5.4.2 Recreation Due to the location, size and nature of Auchenshuggle the improvements necessary to encourage more recreation on the site will be appropriate to these factors. Appendix II outlines the detail and timescales of a variety of management prescriptions and potential opportunities which are to be carried out or explored during the life of the plan. The creation of new entrances and associated paths will lead to improvements for accessibility, connectivity and feelings of security for all that come to visit the wood. It is also envisaged that any future areas of dedicated natural play and/or art installations would encourage interaction from children and adults with the natural environment.
A5.5 Access
A5.5.1 Visitor In order to improve visitor access to the woodland for both the present situation around the wood but also to provide for the neighbouring planned future development, various improvements are desired. It would be advantageous to have a pedestrian crossing system and the necessary infrastructure installed at the exiting traffic lights by the entrance on London Rd directly across from Causewayside St. As previously mentioned it will also be beneficial to create two new entrances one on the west and the other to the east of the wood encouraging footfall between workers of the developing Clyde Gateway Business Park to the west and the retail park to the east (see Appendix II & Map A5d).
A5.5.2 Management In terms of management access along with access via the entrance to the car park at the north-west corner it would be practical to have forest machine and timber haulage access through the securely gated south eastern tarmac road which serves the mobile phone mast and these options will be explored within the life of the plan (see Appendix II).
A5.6 Critical Success Factors The success of this plan will be based on whether the objectives set out in the Management Plan Brief (see Appendix IV) are achieved. The table which forms Appendix V details how each objective will be appraised, where and when each objective will be monitored; by who and where it will be recorded. This will enable an evaluation of success as part of the mid and end of plan reviews.
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Glasgow Woods Section B: Drumchapel
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B1.1 Setting and context The Drumchapel Woods (totalling 60.2 Ha) found in the Glasgow suburb of Drumchapel on the north western edge of the city are made up of Cleddans Burn Wood (16.4 Ha) and The Garscadden Woods; comprised themselves of the original Garscadden Wood, known locally as the ‘Bluebell Woods’ (23.5 Ha) and the Garscadden Extension (20.3 Ha). Collectively these woods curve around the northern edge of Drumchapel, separating the residential housing estates of new Drumchapel not only from the predominantly agricultural land adjacent to the north but also from the residential town and golf course of Bearsden to the north-east and the A82 Great Western Road and Clydebank beyond, to the west. Along the western edge of Cleddans Burn Wood runs Cleddan’s Burn which supports an area of wetland next to the wood. The Antonine Wall World Heritage site also runs along the north western edge of the Garscadden Extension. Each of the Drumchapel woods have at least two formal access points all of which link to the adjacent residential communities. There are no formal car-parking facilities serving these woods.
Table B1 Current land usage Land use Area (ha) %age Existing Broadleaved Mixed Woodland 29.4 49 Existing Conifer Mixed Woodland 3.2 5 Footpaths 0.6 1 Open space 27.0 45 Total 60.2 100% of which Wayleaves (OH Electricity 400kV & 132kV) 3.0 0 Wayleaves (Water pipe) 0.05 0
See Maps B1 - Location & B4d - Context
B1.2 History of the site The three areas which make up the woodlands have different backgrounds. Cleddans Burn Wood and the Garscadden Extension are new mixed woodlands planted from the early to late 1990’s although there is historic cartographic evidence to suggest Cleddans Burn Wood was planted previously as it shows an area within the existing boundary as mixed woodland in the 1865 OS 1st Ed. Dumbarton Sheet XXIII.14 (Combined) New areas of planting were ploughed and planted at 1.0m spacing and where there were existing trees mounding was used and trees inter-planted at 1.5m spacing. Since their establishment other than some small scale pruning and coppicing no thinning or felling operations have taken place.
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Garscadden Wood is a much older woodland; Shown on Richardson’s Map of 1795 and arguably earlier on Roy’s Military Map 1746-1755 woodland has existed on the current site for at least 218 years but probably longer and to much the same extent as it does now from at least 1865 as seen in the OS 1st Ed Map. Garscadden Wood was part of Garscadden Estate which had several previous owners before passing to the Colquhoun Family in 1665. The estate later joined with Killermont Estate and was in the hands of the Campbell- Colquhoun family. In the 1940’s the estate was compulsorily purchased by the Corporation of Glasgow Housing Department which is now Glasgow City Council, the present owners. There is documentary and physical evidence that the woodland was historically managed for oak and hazel coppice however no documented management objectives and policies are available until the 1990’s when Central Scotland Countryside Trust produced a management plan for the wood covering 1990-1995. The CSCT management policies amongst others were to maximise the wildlife habitat by re-establishing a climax oak/ash wood reducing the exotics and the bracken cover ensuring the woodland continued to contribute to the amenity of the area and to encourage general usage by the public. B2.0 Analysis of previous plan There was no previous plan for these woods
B3.0 Background information
B3.1 Physical site factors
B3.1.1 Geology Soils and landform The underlying geology of the site is predominantly limestone coal formation superficially overlain for the most part by till, alluvium and Cadder sand formation. All the woods lie on the slopes of the small drumlins which surround and fall within Drumchapel. Cleddans Burn faces west at an elevation of between 40m – 70m ASL; Garscadden Extension faces south also at an elevation of between 40m – 70m and finally Garscadden also faces south and lies at an elevation of 30m - 90m. There are mine entries recorded within Garscadden extension and Garscadden however there are no visible remains. Heavy machinery should not be operated in this area without further investigation by specialists.
Based on the James Hutton Institute Land Capability for Agriculture classification, as one might expect given its location, Drumchapel falls under Class 888 - Built up areas, quarries & bings. The soils are deep, free draining
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and relatively fertile brown earths for the most part (see Maps B2a – Bedrock Geology; B2b – Superficial Geology; B2c – Soils & B2d – Land Capability for Forestry)
B3.1.2 Climate Drumchapel Woods fall within the Warm, Moist climatic zone with Accumulated Temperature (day-degrees above 5 °C, a measure of growing season length) varying between 1353 and 1437 (1200 representing the dividing point between Cool & Warm) (see Maps B3a – Accumulated Temperature & B3b – Moisture Deficit).
B3.1.3 Exposure (DAMS) Detailed Aspect Method Scoring (DAMS) is a measure of windiness of a site using the angle to the horizon in the eight compass points, weighted towards the prevailing wind direction. Scores range from 0-24: The higher the score the greater the exposure, with scores below 13 regarded as sheltered and above 22 as too high for commercial forestry. DAMS on the site scores from a sheltered 10 to a moderately exposed 14 (13-15 = moderately exposed, 16-17 = highly exposed), with scores generally increasing with elevation (see Map B3c – DAMS).
B3.1.4 Hydrology Cleddan’s Burn runs along the western edge of Cleddans Burn Wood and outside the western periphery of Garscadden Extension part of the Clydebank and Kirkintilloch bedrock and localised sand and gravel aquifers Groundwater body. Information from SEPA indicates that this water body has been classified as having an overall poor status suffering mainly from diffuse source pollution resultant from coal mining and quarrying.
Table B2 - Watercourses Watercourse Tributaries Main Stem Cleddans Burn N/A N/A
B3.2 The existing woodland
B3.2.1 Age structure, species and yield class
Age Structure As previously mentioned Cleddans Burn and the Garscadden Extension are both 1990’s plantations with Garscadden a much older wood and as such the age structure is intermittent with distinct concentrations of early thicket and mature to old forest which can be seen in the table B2 and figure B1 below.
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Cleddans Burn and to a lesser extent the Garscadden Ext and Garscadden have significant areas of open space given over for acid grassland, footpaths or wayleaves and these unplanted areas compose approx. 47% of the total area of the woods as a whole. This plan will aim to maintain, encourage and develop, within Garscadden at least, what is a relatively diverse age structure and within Cleddans Burn and the Garscadden Ext. develop the early thicket stage trees through to thicket and pole stage and beyond and create the opportunity for regeneration to increase the proportion of establishment stage trees.
Table B2 Age Structure Age of Trees (years) Successional Stage Area (ha) % 0-10 Establishment 0 0 11-20 Early Thicket 18.2 55 21-40 Thicket & Pole Stage 1.5 5 41-60 Mature High Forest 0 0 61+ Old Forest 12.9 40
Figure B1 Age Structure Breakdown by Species
12
Ash 10 Beech Birc h 8 Co mmo n A lde r Hawthorn Mixed Broadleaves 6 Oak
Area (Ha) S y c a mo re 4 Japanese larch Mixed c onifer 2 Norway spruc e Sc ots pine
0 0-10 11-20 21-40 41-60 61+
Establishment Early Thic ket Thicket/Pole Mature High Forest Old Forest Suc c essional Stage
Species Structure Broadleaves make up approx. 90% of the species found within the woods of which oak and ash are the predominant species with several other species contributing to a varied species mix as seen in table B3. The other 10% conifer element is mostly Scots pine and Japanese larch with a small element
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of spruce and other mixed conifer. The aim of this plan is to maintain a varied diversity of species within the woods.
Table B3 Species Structure Species Area (ha) % Ash 5.3 16.2 Beech 0.2 0.5 Birch 4.0 12.2 Common Alder 3.9 11.9 Hawthorn 1.3 4.1 Mixed Broadleaves 2.6 8.0 Oak 9.9 30.4 Sycamore 2.3 7.0 Japanese larch 0.8 2.4 Mixed conifer 0.2 0.5 Norway spruce 0.7 2.0 Scots pine 1.6 4.8
Figure B2 Species Structure
2% 0% 5% 2% 17% Ash 7% Beech 0% Birc h Co mmo n A lde r Hawthorn 12% Mixed broadleaves Oak Sycamore Japanesse larch 31% Mixed c onifer 12% Norway spruc e Sc ots pine 4% 8%
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Yield Class Yield classes across the site vary depending on site, establishment methods and previous management. On the whole the more recently planted woodlands of Cleddans Burn and the Garscadden Ext. have higher yielding trees with SP and JL at YC14 and broadleaves around YC 8-10. Within Garscadden the mainly broadleaved trees have yield classes, predominantly, between 4 and 8. Whilst timber production is not one of the main objectives of this plan it will aim to encourage and develop stems of good form and vigour for potential niche markets.
B3.2.2 Ancient Woodland As highlighted previously, Garscadden Wood supports 14.66 Ha of woodland which has been present from at least 1795 and is of Long Established Plantation Origin (LEPO) most likely previously managed as oak and hazel coppice.
B3.2.3 Access Being relatively small woodlands on the edge of a residential housing area these woods are primarily accessed via a network of footpaths from several entrances to each wood for recreational use. The footpath network is in a good condition and offers accessibility to a wide range of abilities although there are some steeper areas within each of the woods which may be more challenging. There is limited vehicular access opportunity with the exception of the disused Monymusk Road leading to a farm track running along the northern edge of the Garscadden Ext. Access for forestry operations will be restricted to small machinery or horse and stacking availability will be limited but as the site is small and will be managed as using LISS the volumes at roadside will be reduced.
B3.2.4 LISS potential This site is suited to low impact systems as it is a stable site with restricted access to large harvesting machinery. The nature of the crop is also suited to LISS having a varied age and species structure.
B3.2.5 Current and potential markets Thinnings from the mixed crop could provide for the firewood market as well as for more niche local hardwood saw millers although access for timber transportation may present challenges.
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B3.2.6 Pathogens
B3.2.6.1 Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) DNB previously known as Red Band Needle Blight due to the colourful symptoms it shows on pine, causes premature needle defoliation, resulting in loss of yield and, in severe cases, tree death.
Recent surveys have shown outbreaks of DNB across Scottish Lowlands Forest District and it has been found to have infected the pine at Garscadden Extension. Scots pine constitutes less that 5% of the species matrix within Drumchapel Woods and therefore doesn’t pose an overly significant risk to the crop as a whole although the decline of the conifer element of the crop would be a loss.
B3.2.6.2 Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen of plants that is causing extensive damage and mortality to trees and other plants in parts of the United Kingdom. Larch in particular is extremely vulnerable, and high infection and mortality levels are currently causing significant issues in Galloway Forest District.
At present no cases of P. ramorum have been found within Scottish Lowlands Forest District, although Drumchapel falls within Zone 2 (Medium risk of infection) in the FCS Action Plan for Larch in Scotland it is very close to the boundary with Zone 1 (High risk of infection) and therefore monitoring for the spread of this pathogen within the wood is important. Larch only makes up around 2.4% of the tree cover within the Drumchapel however it forms an important element of the woodland character.
B3.2.6.3 Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback) Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by a fungus, resulting in leaf loss, crown dieback and, potentially, tree death.
Ash accounts for ~16.2% of the tree cover in Drumchapel where, as yet, Chalara infection has not been detected so continued monitoring for the disease is very important.
B3.3 Landscape and land use
B3.3.1 Landscape character and value Drumchapel sits within very visually diverse rounded, irregular landscape due the nature of its highly populated urban setting characterised by a complex matrix of roads, residential housing, schools, woodlands and agricultural
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enclosures. The woodlands are perceived on the medium scale due to their hillside situation, surrounding a flatter landform area.
In terms of SNH’s Landscape Character Assessment, the site is classed as Urban Greenspace. Relevant extracts from the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Landscape Character Assessment are as follows:
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B3.3.2 Visibility Situated within a landscape shaped by glaciation the woodlands are found on Drumlins, small hillocks of till deposited by retreating glaciers. As such the views of the woodlands are interrupted by other surrounding drumlins and various buildings and are therefore restricted primarily to certain a limited number of street level views from within Drumchapel and from various surrounding high rise flats. As the woods predominantly surround Drumchapel to the north, views of the woods offer a pleasant green backdrop to what would otherwise be an urban landscape.
B3.3.3 Neighbouring land use To the south of the woods the land use is urban residential comprising Drumchapel itself, with some areas currently in disuse. To the east and north- east the woods border the town of Bearsden and its golf course respectively. To the north and north-west the woods are bordered by agricultural grazing land and to the very south-west there are the recreational facilities of a golfing centre/driving range and an all-weather football centre.
B3.4 Biodiversity and Heritage
B3.4.1 Biodiversity
B3.4.1.1 Local Habitat Action Plans Glasgow City Council have four Local Habitat Action Plans (LHAP) which influence management at Drumchapel; the LHAP on Boundary Features (hedgerows, walls & ditches) aims to maintain the quality and quantity of boundary features, protect features of conservation value and bring derelict features into appropriate management. Hawthorn and beech hedgerows are relevant to this aim. The relevant aims of the LHAP on Broadleaved and Mixed Woodland to Drumchapel are to ensure the ecological value of broadleaved and mixed woodland is improved and to promote woodland for socio-economic and public amenity benefits. Finally the relevant aims of the LHAP on Marsh to Drumchapel are to ensure no net loss in area of marsh and to promote sympathetic management.
B3.4.1.2 Local Habitat Statements Glasgow City Council have a Local Habitat Statement on Built Up Areas and Gardens which aims to raise awareness of biodiversity and help ensure that built up areas such as those surrounding Drumchapel are managed in a more sustainable way, following best practice. Relevant objectives to Drumchapel listed in the statement include; promoting the implementation of sympathetic and sustainable management practices, raising awareness and understanding
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of biodiversity in the wider community, encouraging public participation in the implementation of biodiversity activities and promoting access to, and the positive recreational use of, open land.
B3.4.1.3 Local Species Action Plans Glasgow City Council has three ‘Local Species Action Plans’ (LSAP) which influence the management at Drumchapel. The relevant aim of the LSAP on Acid Grassland to Drumchapel is to ensure no loss in area or reduction of the quality of the current, main acid grassland site which is part of the Dwarf shrub heath habitat matrix. For the LSAP on Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non- scripta) the aims relevant to Drumchapel are to maintain the current distribution and population size; maintain or promote sympathetic management and; to increase the distribution of Bluebell where appropriate within the Broadleaved & mixed woodland habitat matrix. Finally the relevant aims from the LSAP on Water Vole (Arvicola amphibious) are to arrest the decline and encourage Water Vole population increases and to improve the management of watercourses and associate wetland habitats within the Marsh habitat matrix.
B3.4.1.4 Invasive Species With its proximity to residential gardens and because of issues with fly-tipping of garden refuse Drumchapel has been affected by the influx of the highly invasive exotic plants Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) which are aggressive and form dense stands that exclude other plants. If these species were left unchecked they could pose a risk of colonising substantial areas to the detriment of native flora and fauna.
B3.4.2 Designations
B3.4.2.1 Local Nature Reserves (LNR)
Garscadden Wood Garscadden Wood was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2006 one of 68 designated in Scotland as of October 2013. A LNR is an area of at least locally important natural heritage, designated and managed by local authorities to give people better opportunities to learn and enjoy nature close to where they live. The quality of the woodland habitat, together with its large size and amenity value, has resulted in this designation.
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B3.4.2.2 City Wide Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (C-SINC) Glasgow City Council has designated 46 C-SINC’s for the benefit of conserving various habitats and/or species of importance to the city.
Garscadden Wood This 17 hectare area is one of the oldest semi-natural woodlands in Glasgow. It is principally broadleaved woodland. To the west of the site oak dominates and it is here that the core ancient woodland is found. Mature oak trees are particularly important for the Purple Hairstreak Butterfly and Garscadden Wood is one of only two sites in Glasgow where these insects can be found. The ground flora is consistent with long term woodland cover, as species such as opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage and bluebell are present. The woodland in the east is more recent in origin and sycamore is more abundant. Other species of tree present include ash, beech, Wych elm and birch. The understorey comprises a mixture of hawthorn, hazel and willow with birch and oak regeneration. The ground flora throughout the site is highly diverse with over 200 different plant species present, including bluebells, wood anemone and various fern species. The woodland is also an important habitat for red fox and song thrush among other animal species.
Cleddans Burn Cleddans Burn provides a good proportion of species rich habitat in an area of otherwise limited species and habitat diversity being surrounded by farmland to the north and housing to the south. Locally important habitats within the area include: marshy grassland; unimproved acid grassland and unimproved neutral grassland. Locally important species within the area include: Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha) and Long-stalked Yellow Sedge (Carex lepidocarpa) both of which occur in the grassland areas.
B3.4.2.3 Local Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (L-SINC) Glasgow City Council has designated 49 L-SINC’s for the benefit of conserving various habitats and/or species of importance to its locality.
Garscadden Plantation The Plantation with its young mixed species woodland and grassland scrub has value for breeding birds, insects and as shelter for roe deer.
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B3.4.3 Heritage
B3.4.3.1 Antonine Wall – World Heritage Site & Scheduled Monument The site’s most obvious heritage feature is the Antonine Wall, a 2nd remnant of the Roman campaign built in the 2nd Century A.D., which runs along the north of the woods and intersects on the north-west corner of the Garscadden Extension where Monymusk road gives way to farm track. In addition to its statutory designation as a Scheduled Monument, since 2008 the feature has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), a non-statutory designation of international significance. The associated buffer for the WHS encroaches into 30.7 Ha of the site comprising almost all of the Garscadden extension and a significant proportion of Cleddans Burn Wood and Garscadden wood. No operations within this plan will compromise the integrity of the wall or access to it or views from or of the wall.
B3.4.3.2 Non-scheduled archaeology Rathmell Archaeology was commissioned to produce an archaeological survey report which was completed in 2011. The report provides further detail on the Antonine Wall but also lists two other features; a drystone wall in Cleddans Burn, and a disused tramway in Garscadden Wood. Both these features are classed as local and in line with FCS Guidelines unnecessary damage should be avoided if possible.
B3.5 Utilities Map B3d shows the extent of the various utility infrastructures detailed throughout the site.
B3.6 Community & Recreation
B3.6.1 Community The woodlands primarily serve the town of Drumchapel which is recognised as one of Scotland’s most socially deprived areas. The woodlands offer an opportunity to experience nature and a restful retreat a stone throw from an urban setting. There are several primary schools, a secondary school as well as nurseries and various community and health groups within a mile of the woodlands and therefore there is opportunity for these groups to take advantage of the woodland resource on their doorstep for educational, social and health benefits.
B3.6.2 Recreation Currently the woodlands support a moderate level of local use mainly by dog walkers and walkers alike as well as some evidence of child play activity from
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rope swings and den building etc. in Garscadden Wood. Increased levels of use would be expected from sympathetic design, improvements to signage, furniture and access. From people counters installed at entrances annual visitor numbers are estimated at approximately 25,000 across the three woods. B4.0 Analysis and Concept Using survey work and research, a broad range of factors were acknowledged and considered to recognise the site’s key features which, informed by the objectives set out in the management plan brief (see Appendix IV) were used to identify the opportunities and constraints which exist within the management plan area and from there develop an initial concept (see Table B4 Analysis and Initial Concept Development below). This initial concept was then distilled further to produce concept maps (see Maps B4c(i) - Cleddans Burn Concept; B4c(ii) Garscadden Extension Concept & B4c(iii) - Garscadden Wood Concept) which summarise the main aspirations and intentions for the management plan. This management concept formed the main basis for the public consultations held in November 2014.
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Table B4 Analysis and Initial Concept Development Factor Opportunity Constraint Initial Concept Development Timber • Market timber from small • Operations may not be • Manage woods to create opportunity for scale thinnings or fellings economic regeneration of desired species such as oak. to firewood processors • Reduced public / Maintain a varied age structure throughout and niche hardwood saw- community access to the woods. Identify and tend potential final millers woods during operations crop trees as to promote good form • Poor/No access for benefiting the aesthetic of the wood and for timber transport potential niche markets in the future. Retain a proportion of diverse formed trees as well to retain natural character. • Maintain and enhance appropriately the conifer element of the species matrix. Business development • Work with and support • Potential for conflicting • Encourage volunteer involvement with small local social enterprises objectives of different scale operations such as thinnings, formative and volunteer groups groups pruning or invasive species removal. • Health and Safety concerns using volunteers for small operations Community development • Increase community • Difficulty in promoting • Investigate/Identify potential partners for involvement in the woods the wood to new users community projects such as a creation of a • Cost of organising potential food for free area. events and activities • Encourage local school groups and other • Potential antisocial use community groups to visit the woods (Forest of the woods schools etc.)
• Discourage anti-social • Time, cost and difficulty • Involve local groups/schools/volunteers in use of woods to gain community buy planting or clean-up operations to impart in and ownership of the sense of ownership. woods to self-police and • Careful design of tree planting, pruning or discourage misuse removal to discourage areas to be misused. Access & Health • Encourage more visitors • Potential antisocial use • Increased signage to encourage visitors in
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to the wood particularly of the woods and provide improved linkage between the from the immediate • Cost of signage woods and with wider area. residential vicinity. • Improve certain threshold areas and keep on top of fly-tipping at these points
• Improve access and • Cost of removing fences • Maintain good lines of sight along paths and safety in the wood and maintaining paths through woods to improve feeling of safety • Unknown ownership of by high pruning of groups and individual fencing trees and felling if necessary
• Remove unsightly and potentially hazardous remnant structures such as metal fencing to reduce safety risk and reduce barriers to informal access as well as overgrown areas.
• Promote woodland as a place to come to • Encourage use of the • Cost and time of walk, run, and cycle or stage events such as woodland for recreation promoting the orienteering or wildlife watching. and exercise woodlands to local clubs and community Biodiversity • Remove invasive species • Cost of operations and • Professionally remove Japanese knotweed where appropriate monitoring • Reduce bracken cover • Control bracken over various phases to and opportunity to reduce cover and spread spread • Small nature of such • Enhance a varied tree work makes the • Manage for CCF using LISS age and species structure operations unattractive • Encourage volunteers to carry out re- to contractors spacing. Larger scale thinnings by • Thinning may impact on contractors using small machinery. species habitat • Survey and record species sightings or habitat and take appropriate action to mitigate against impact from any operations
• Improve habitat • Potential damage to • Where regeneration of desired species is trees by deer browsing, proving unsuccessful enrichment plant using or grey squirrel ring tubes to protect. barking. • If grey squirrel prove to be an issue look at 50 | Glasgow Woods LMP | S. Towers | September 2015
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options to combat them. • Leave an element of timber from operations on site for dead wood to stimulate biodiversity up the food chain. Landscape • Improve views into and • Risk of alienating users • Manage the wood to maintain a broad range within the wood. by changing what they of tree species and age classes. are used to. • Use both felling and planting along path • Diseases such as Ash edges to create a variety of ‘spaces’ along dieback, Dothistroma their length to improve the visitor Needle Blight on pine experience. and Phytopthera • Plant groups of low-growing tree and shrub ramorum on larch species along the path under OHPL’s to should they arrive, could improve woodland experience, provide seriously alter the screening and increase biodiversity.
aesthetic of the wood as • Open up overgrown drainage gullies by well as the age thinning trees and tackling dense ground structure. vegetation to create features and maintain drainage function.
• Plant individual or small groups of conifers • Increase the conifer • More conifers may particularly along Garscadden Wood’s path element for winter colour detract from the current network and within areas currently and increased diversity character of the wood dominated by bracken to improve textural • Planting locations diversity, restrict bracken regen and provide restricted by OHPLs more shelter.
• Cost of establishment • Expand woodland cover where appropriate to • Potential losses through • Plant more trees strategically along paths improve landscape and anti-social behaviour and in certain open spaces to improve woodland experience and browsing transition between spaces, opportunities to • Loss of other habitats frame or screen views, provide shelter and shade, define boundaries and enhance the woodland experience.
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B5.0 Management Proposals
Due to the nature of these woods many of the management proposals for Drumchapel are not solely the gift of FES to deliver as part of our regular management of our sites. Much of what is proposed for Drumchapel Woods will be dependent on various factors such as the availability of suitable funding, consultation with neighbours/community, access agreements etc. Such proposals constitute possible future projects for FES to be delivered in partnership/agreement with others. Appendix II – Management Table highlights which aspects of the management of the site fall under our ‘general management functions’ and which might constitute a ‘potential future project’. The associated Maps B5d – CRT General Management & Potential Projects & B5e – Environment/Heritage General Management & Potential Projects indicate where on the ground various tasks listed in Appendix II would be focused. The following section details the management proposals for the wood and where applicable refers to Appendix II and Map B5d & e the former containing some general management tasks not detailed below.
B5.1 Woodland Management The proposals for this site have been produced based on sound silvicultural and environmental principles and follow the requirements, guidelines and recommendations set out within the UK Forestry Standard, the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme, FC Bulletin 124 Ecological Site Classification for Forestry and FC Bulletin 62 Silviculture of Broadleaved Woodland, FC Bulletin 115 Alternative Silvicultural Systems and the current FC edition of Forest and Water Guidelines.
B5.1.1 Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) Each of the woodlands that make up the Drumchapel woods primarily provides important amenity and biodiversity value and producing timber or forest products is a much less significant influence on the management of the woods. With this in mind the intention for the woods is to balance appropriate management of the various visitor zones throughout the sites whilst creating the conditions which will encourage the healthy growth and regeneration of a mix of species and strata in perpetuity. Achieving this balance will require coordination of both the WIAT Forest Management team and the CRT team. The WIAT FM team will concentrate on silvicultural thinnings primarily within the passive and interactive management zones whilst CRT will focus on aesthetic interventions to improve the visual appreciation of the sites for the visitor by way of light thinning, crown lifting and coppicing within the welcome
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and interactive management zones (see Maps B5a – Operational Management & B5b – Visitor Zone Management). The following subsections outline the WIAT FM silvicultural thinning proposals.
B5.1.1.1 Cleddan’s Burn & Garscadden Extension Both Cleddan’s Burn and Garscadden Extension are predominantly mixed native species P1990’s crops and as such these woods will be thinned to improve the growth, stability and form of the remaining trees and to enhance the seedbed conditions for future natural regeneration and native woodland flora. These woodlands will be selectively crown thinned every 7-10 years at varying intensities throughout the crop in order to create a more irregular mixed stand and, over time, allow for a less even aged structure moist likely using a selection system of management removing single or small groups of trees. The oak within these stands has not yet reached the suitable age for first thinning and will not reach this for another 10-15 years and therefore the initial interventions will favour the climax species. Introduction of suitable woodland ground flora to the thinned areas would benefit biodiversity. Areas of scrub hawthorn will not be thinned.
B5.1.1.2 Garscadden Wood At Garscadden wood most of the broadleaved woodland is much older and there are distinct areas of varying sizes and complexities where there are particular primary species often with secondary species in both the under and overstorey. Because of this variety and complexity of species distribution as well as varying levels of regeneration, canopy cover, and seedbed condition a different approach is required. At Garscadden Wood a variety of silvicultural systems will be employed at a micro-management level depending on what is happening in that particular area of the wood. There are areas where the group or irregular shelterwood system will be appropriate to create gaps to encourage regeneration to get away and there are other areas where a selection system of single or small groups of trees would be more appropriate. There are also areas where it might be expected a uniform shelterwood system should be employed and others where coppicing would be appropriate. A caveat to the variety of systems that should be used in conjunction with each other across Garscadden is that these systems will likely need to be facilitated by various manual interventions to enable them to function. E.g. competing ground vegetation such as bramble and bracken will, in places, need manual intervention in order to allow seeds to germinate; protection against deer browsing will also be required; it may be necessary in many areas to plant in order to enrich or supplement natural regeneration so the successor crop can be established and that appropriate silvicultural management can be
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maintained. This micromanagement of Garscadden is important to best manage and maintain the mix of species found in the woods more effectively so that climax species such as oak and ash can reach maturity and their full regenerative potential with the aid of other species found on site such as hazel and where appropriate sycamore and beech to control light levels reaching the forest floor and improve seedbed condition.
It should also be noted that there is an area of the wood which is predominantly mature conifer mostly of Japanese larch and Scots pine but also with some Sitka spruce and Douglas fir. There is evidence of some blow in the larch and pine with little regeneration of any conifer species seen on the ground. On clearing the windblow and thinning any unstable or subdominant trees it would be hoped that the ground disturbance caused coupled with the subsequent increase in light reaching the forest floor will encourage natural regeneration of the larch and pine but should this not materialise then this area should be supplemented with oak, aspen, birch & wild cherry with an element of conifer such as Douglas fir to reflect the current character enjoyed by visitors.
All thinning decisions will be guided the Operational Guidance Booklet (OGB) 9 – Managing Thinning and the current SLFD Thinning Plan. CCF decisions will be guided by OGB 7 – Managing Continuous Cover Forests.
B5.2 Future habitats and species
B5.2.1 Woodland habitat The Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) characterised three different native woodland habitat types within Drumchapel. The habitats identified were ‘lowland mixed deciduous woodland’; ‘wet woodland’ & ‘hawthorn scrub’. Out- with these native areas there is an area of mixed woodland which is comprised of conifers (mostly Scots pine & Japanese larch) and mixed broadleaves of a similar make up to the lowland deciduous area e.g. ash & sycamore.
Existing matrices
Lowland Mixed deciduous woodland The vast majority of both Garscadden Wood and Garscadden Extension were identified in the NWSS as being characterised by this native woodland type and as such the proposed LISS outlined above will maintain this woodland type and its associated woodland ground flora including bluebell; where necessary appropriate native broadleaved species will be used to supplement natural
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regeneration. Most of the lowland mixed deciduous woodland within Garscadden wood is also identified as LEPO woodland and therefore maintaining this native area will also serve to maintain the continuation of the LEPO woodland.
Wet woodland The central area of Cleddan’s burn was identified in the NWSS as being characterised as native wet woodland and as such the small areas of woodland enhancement here will be of a W7 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) wet woodland type.
Hawthorn scrub The eastern and south eastern edge of Garscadden Extension is identified as being characterised as this native woodland type and this plan will retain these areas as minimum intervention areas. It is the intention of this plan to provide more screening between the wood and the residential area to the south west and as low growing species will be required along the wayleave the area of hawthorn (and other native) scrub will be enhanced. The remnant hawthorn hedge along the north eastern edge of Garscadden Extension will be enriched and be managed as a hedge in future providing valuable habitat.
Mixed woodland Out-with the areas identified in the NWSS the woodlands are still predominantly broadleaved but there is a greater element of non-native species such as sycamore and poplar as well as a conifer element of Japanese larch. In these areas, as with the native areas, LISS will be employed to make the most of what is currently there and what the woodland is naturally inclined to move toward. LISS thinning interventions, it is hoped, will enable natural regeneration of ash to get away and encourage NR of larch. If NR fails then supplementary planting of appropriate species will be used.
B5.2.1.1 Prescriptions The small areas of new planting shown on Map B5c – Future habitats & species will be planted sympathetically to the surrounding woodland. The table below lists the extra area(s) of proposed new planting (not including areas identified within the concept which may be planted for ‘short rotation greening’).
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Table B5 – Proposed Species Species/Habitat Type Gross Area (ha) % of total Net Area (ha) area Mixed broadleaves (W7,W8,W9 type) 2.40 4.0 2.30 Low growing scrub (W21, W22 type) 0.34 0.5 0.30
Total 2.74 4.5 2.6
B5.2.2 Open land (see Appendix II & Maps B5d & e)
Acid Grassland – The district will continue to manage this habitat by way of cutting and lifting of sward in a mosaic of cut and uncut patches to keep nutrient levels low whilst maintaining suitable flora for the benefit of invertebrates.
Marsh – The district will continue to keep this habitat clear of any trees which may seed in.
Wildflower meadow – Should a wildflower meadow be established in Garscadden, it will be managed appropriately to deplete nutrients and to benefit invertebrates.
B5.3 Biodiversity & Heritage
B5.3.1 Deadwood It is the aim to utilise natural processes retaining dead, windblown or snapped stems or those created during previous operations. Deadwood can be trees or limbs in the early stage of decomposition, e.g. veterans or dying individual trees. These should be retained wherever possible to create an even mix of standing, fallen or stacked deadwood.
It is the district policy to contribute around 20m3/ha of deadwood averaged across the whole woodland area in each forest block. This aspiration is dependent on the site type and long term objectives. At Drumchapel the vast majority of the area the deadwood potential has been estimated as low and as such the following SLFD policy approach should be adopted:
. Retain veterans, standing & fallen dead stems and some stumps. . Harvest windblow only when it is economic or required to make the site safe.
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. Leave stems of no commercial value to die through shading. . If advised, create deadwood stacks and small retentions of live trees and shrubs, to a minimum of 3% of total stem volume.
The mature portion of woodland within Garscadden Wood has been estimated as medium deadwood potential and as such the following SLFD policy should be adopted.
• Retain veterans, standing & fallen dead stems, windblow and some stumps. • Consider felling non-native trees (and leaving in situ).
These approaches should be weighed against the health and safety implications in regard to priority visitor zoning areas detailed within the FC Practice Guide Managing Deadwood in Forests & Woodlands and appropriate steps should be taken to balance the approach above with public safety.
B5.3.2 Invasive species Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) - An eradication programme of Japanese knotweed is in place within affected sites across the district in accordance with the District Invasive Non-Native Species Plan 2014-2019. Control is initially through stem injection of glyphosate and then a follow up foliar spray or stem inject the next year. The next stage will be to re-cover the affected areas with appropriate species to prevent re-establishment. It is planned to rake and burn the remaining material after the follow up spray and to reseed or plant the ground.
Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) – Whilst being a native species the spread of bracken in Garscadden has meant that it dominates large swathes of predominantly open land (approx.. 2.3Ha) toward the centre of the site and has also spread within the wood (approx. 1.0Ha). This encroachment into the wood is particularly evident underneath various areas where veteran and mature oak form the canopy. The bracken ground cover is smothering potential regenerating oaks as well as suppressing other native ground flora such as bluebell. A further issue exacerbated by the large swathes of bracken is that in early spring it provides a high fuel load which results in frequent occurrences of fire-raising during these months. It would not be desirable to eradicate the bracken completely as it used by Purple Hairstreak Butterfly for basking but it would be beneficial to significantly reduce its area and limit its vigour and spread. Such limited control could be carried out by mechanical treatments such as rolling to crush it or whipping to cut it. This would need to be done at least twice in the first year (May/June and again July/August)
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followed by at least one cut and lift each year for the following five years. This work would be suitable for volunteers if available (see Appendix II & Map B5d).
B5.3.3 Wildlife Management Drumchapel has a resident population of peri-urban roe deer which, along with other factors, hampers natural regeneration. Due to Drumchapel’s proximity to residential roads and homes as well as schools and areas of amenity such as a golf course coupled with the irregular hours the woods can be visited, the site, along with the other Glasgow Woods, is not managed through sustainable culling; therefore tree guards will most likely be the method employed to encourage establishment if and where natural generation proves unsuccessful.
Further details on deer management within the Glasgow area can be found within the Scottish Lowlands Forest District Deer Management Strategy (in conjunction with the Deer Overview Map).
B5.3.4 Heritage Whilst the Antonine Wall has several designations and is of high historical significance its line falls within only a small sliver of the management area of which most has been afforested (via hand planting) for almost 20 years or has a former tarmac road/farm track over it. As such the management prescription required for the feature is simply to maintain its present condition with no ground disturbance from vehicle rutting occurring over the wall and no dumping or storing of materials. Any thinnings over the feature will leave root structures in place.
The other features described in the archaeological survey as of local significance will not be unnecessarily damaged and operations will be conducted in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard Guidelines on Forests and the Historic Environment.
B5.4 Community & Recreation
FES district staff will continue to liaise with the local community to promote and encourage use of the wood and Community Rangers will continue to seek opportunities to develop new and forge existing links with schools, community and user groups to increase awareness and enjoyment of the wood.
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B5.4.1 Community There is a large population in close proximity to the woods and whilst FES have done much to improve paths, litter and anti-social behaviour with an increased on-site presence, much of the challenge to provide a green space the community have an active involvement with and have a sense of shared ownership of is hampered by a combination of factors including paths being used by unauthorised motorised vehicles, areas of surrounding neglect and hazardous remnant infrastructure. Appendix II & Maps B5d-e list the continued maintenance schedule FES will carry out over the life of the plan as well as potential projects in the wood to be explored with the aims of providing a benefit to the wood and in turn a long-term benefit to the community e.g. temporary greening of neglected areas, removal of obsolete infrastructure & creating food for free areas.
B5.4.2 Recreation Appendix II and Maps B5d-e list various maintenance tasks that FES will continue to carry out through the life of the plan as well as several potential aspiration projects such as new path links and natural play areas.
B5.5 Access
B5.5.1 Visitor The current access provision of 11 entrances, 8 available from the street and 3 set back from the pavement, allows for relatively good pedestrian access to the woods although in certain areas some small improvements could make a much better impression and make better sense. Of the 8 street entrances 3 of those are less formalised with no threshold signage to emphasise FES management. Appendix II and Maps B5d-e detail some general maintenance and potential projects which would improve visitor access to the site.
B5.5.2 Management In terms of management access there are no forest roads in any of the woods and at present only the farm track running east from the end of Monymusk Pl in Garscadden Extension has any semblance of perhaps serving as such in the future. With that being the case sufficient operational access at present would require agreement with neighbours both to enter the sites and to stack timber out-with them. Appendix II & Maps B5d-e identify these as projects to be undertaken during the life of the plan. In the long-term having dedicated operational access to each of the three sites would be the ideal however the long-term future management of the site beyond the life of the plan will need
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to be formalised prior to any major infrastructure investment and as such these discussions will take place within the life of this plan.
B5.6 Critical Success Factors The success of this plan will be based on whether the objectives set out in the Management Plan Brief (see Appendix IV) are achieved. The table which forms Appendix V details how each objective will be appraised, where and when each objective will be monitored; by who and where it will be recorded. This will enable an evaluation of success as part of the mid and end of plan reviews.
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Glasgow Woods
Section C:
Easterhouse
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C1.1 Setting and context The Easterhouse Woods (totalling 94.3 Ha) found in the Glasgow suburb of Easterhouse on the eastern edges of the city are comprised of five distinct woodlands, namely: Cardowan Moss (52.5 Ha), Todd’s Well (8.6 Ha), Bishop Loch (21.6 Ha), Lochend Burn (5.3 Ha), and West Maryston Woods (6.3 Ha).
The woods are spread across Easterhouse and generally are bordered to the south by the remnants of 1950’s residential housing estates along with some more recent development apart from West Maryston, whose southern edge is bordered by the M8 motorway. To the north, generally the woods border on to various rural land types. Much of this rural space is composed of natural or semi-natural open green space in the form of open water, woodland, wetland and moss again aside from West Maryston which has residential housing along its northern edge. The woodlands fall within the proposed Seven Lochs Wetland Park, a 19.3km2 area where water is the dominant feature of the landscape in the form of open water, burns and seasonally flooded or persistently wet ground. Aside from its biodiversity benefits the park also aims to promote the health and wellbeing of visitors and residents and have a major impact on the environmental, economic and social regeneration of the area.
The current land matrix is as follows:
Table C1 Current land usage Land use Area (ha) %age Existing Broadleaved Mixed Woodland 74.8 79.3 Existing Conifer Mixed Woodland 2.8 3.0 Footpaths 1.1 1.2 Open space 15.6 16.5 Total 94.3 100 of which Wayleaves (OH Electricity 11kV) 0.5 Wayleaves (UH low voltage Electricity) 1.7 Wayleaves (UG High Pressure Gas) 1.8 Drains 0.1
See Maps C1 - Location & C4d - Context
C1.2 History of the site The majority of the woodland area across the sites was planted in the 1990’s by the Treewise Group. The planting was done on behalf of Glasgow City
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Council under Woodland Grant Schemes. The ground preparation was forestry ploughing and planting at high densities in order to encourage straight growth and mitigate against failures due to pressures from antisocial behaviour and deer browsing. Previous to that the majority of the area now under woodland cover was previously agricultural land with associated shelter belts, remnants of which survive within the various woods. The only significant areas of older woodlands are Craigend and Lochwood Plantation, areas of ancient woodland both within Bishop Loch. The woods are owned by Glasgow City Council and since 2010 have been managed as part of a 10 year lease agreement ending in 2020. C2.0 Analysis of previous plan There was no previous plan for these woods
C3.0 Background information
C3.1 Physical site factors
C3.1.1 Geology Soils and landform The underlying geology of the site is predominantly Scottish lower and middle coal formations with seams of Passage and Upper limestone formations as well as Western Midland Valley Westphalian to early Permian Sills. Overlying the bedrock are predominantly Till, Peat and Lacustrine deposits. The woods lie between elevations of approx. 80 – 100 m ASL within a gently undulating post glacial landscape characterised by a series of kettle ponds which form the basis of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park. The area has a history of coal mining and several mine entries can are recorded across the site therefore heavy machinery should not be operated in this area without further investigation by specialists.
Based on the James Hutton Institute Land Capability for Agriculture classification, as one might expect given its location, Easterhouse falls under Class 888 - Built up areas, quarries & bings but also has areas capable of mixed agriculture and being improved grassland. The soils are predominantly noncalcareous gley, peaty alluvial soil and areas of deep peat, particularly near to the mosses of Cardowan and Craigend. The soils are moist and range from medium to rich in nutrients (see Maps C2a – Bedrock Geology; C2b – Superficial Geology; C2c – Soils & C2d – Land Capability for Forestry).
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C3.1.2 Climate Easterhouse Woods fall within the Warm, Moist climatic zone with Accumulated Temperature (day-degrees above 5 °C, a measure of growing season length) varying between 1342 and 1379 (1200 representing the dividing point between Cool & Warm) (see Maps C3a – Accumulated Temperature & C3b – Moisture Deficit).
C3.1.3 Exposure (DAMS) Detailed Aspect Method Scoring (DAMS) is a measure of windiness of a site using the angle to the horizon in the eight compass points, weighted towards the prevailing wind direction. Scores range from 0-24: The higher the score the greater the exposure, with scores below 13 regarded as sheltered and above 22 as too high for commercial forestry. DAMS on the site score from a moderately exposed 13-15 across the vast majority of the site to a highly exposed 16 on a very small area of Cardowan Moss (13-15 = moderately exposed, 16-17 = highly exposed), with scores generally increasing with elevation (see Map C3c – DAMS).
C3.1.4 Hydrology A large drain dissects Cardowan Moss from west to east with the captured water draining east into Bishop Loch. This in turn feeds the Bothlin Burn which drains into the River Kelvin in Kirkintilloch. The associated groundwater system forms part of the Clydebank and Kirkintilloch bedrock and localised sand and gravel aquifers. Information from SEPA indicates that this water body has been classified as having an overall poor status suffering mainly from diffuse source pollution resultant from coal mining and quarrying.
Table C2 - Watercourses Watercourse Tributaries Main Stem Cardowan Moss Drain N/A River Kelvin (via Bothlin Burn)
C3.2 The existing forest
C3.2.1 Age structure, species and yield class Age Structure As previously mentioned the majority of the woods across the 5 sites were planted in the 1990’s and the breakdown of ages can be seen in Table C2 and Figure C1 below. Of the site as a whole just under 18% is given over to open space. The open spaces consist of wayleaves, rides, footpaths, watercourses, wetland, grassland and bog. This plan aims to build upon the foundations of what has been planted, encouraging the healthy continued development of the
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woods in order that in years to come it can support various timely low impact silvicultural interventions aimed at encouraging natural regeneration thereby diversifying the age structure across the woods allowing for a multi-tiered canopy.
Table C3 Age Structure Age of Trees (years) Successional Stage Area (ha) % 0-10 Establishment 0 0 11-20 Early Thicket 68.0 87.7 21-40 Thicket & Pole Stage 2.9 3.7 41-60 Mature High Forest 0 0 61+ Old Forest 6.6 8.6
Figure C1 Age Structure Breakdown by Species
30
Ash 25 Beech Birc h 20 Co mmo n a lde r Hawthorn Hazel 15 Mixed Broadleaves
Area (Ha) Oak 10 Poplar Sycamore 5 Japanes larch Sc ots pine
0 0-10 11-20 21-40 41-60 61+
Establishment Early Thic ket Thicket/Pole Mature High Forest Old Forest Successional Stage
Species Structure Broadleaf species make up approx. 96% of the species within the woodlands of which Ash, Common Alder, Birch and Oak predominate along with various others with the remaining 4% conifer element being predominantly Japanese larch and Scots pine. This plan will maintain the diverse mix of species throughout the woods.
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Table C4 Species Structure Species Area (ha) % Ash 25.2 32.5 Common alder 19.2 24.7 Birch 16.2 20.9 Oak 6.8 8.8 Beech 2.3 2.9 Sycamore 2.2 2.9 Japanese larch 2.0 2.5 Mixed broadleaves 1.2 1.6 Hawthorn 1.0 1.2 Scots pine 0.9 1.1 Poplar 0.5 0.6 Hazel 0.2 0.2
Figure C2 Species Structure
3% 21% Ash Beech Birc h Co mmo n A lde r Hawthorn 32% Hazel Mixed Broadleaf
24% Oak Poplar S y c a mo re 1% Japanese Larch 1% Scots pine 3% 9% 0% 3% 2% 1%
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Yield Class Yield classes range between YC2-YC14 with around 50% of the trees being YC8. A one might expect pine and larch are at the higher end of the range and hawthorn and hazel at the lower end. The ash, birch, alder and oak are found with the YC6-YC10 bracket. Whilst timber production is not one of the main objectives of this plan it will aim to encourage and develop stems of good form and vigour for potential niche markets.
C3.2.2 Ancient Woodland Whilst most of the woodland across the sites was established during the 1990’s there are two areas which are recognised from historic map data as being of more ancient origin. Lochwood Plantation which forms part of the wider Bishop Loch site is woodland of Long Established Plantation Origin (LEPO). Craigend Wood which is also part of the wider Bishop Loch site is an Ancient Woodland of Semi-Natural origin (ASNW).
C3.2.3 Access Situated in and around highly populated residential areas, access to these sites is on the whole limited to pedestrian entrances and footpaths from various points throughout each wood. Each wood has at least one formal access point but there are no formal car-parking facilities for any of the woods. There are various points where larger machinery or timber haulage could get access such as north west of Cardowan Moss or along Rogerfield Rd south of West Maryston; however due to the envisaged small scale nature of future operations it is expected that small scale machinery and/or horse may be used for timber operations with only small volumes being extracted for sale. A significant volume of timber may be left onsite providing deadwood habitat.
C3.2.4 LISS potential This site is suited to low impact systems as it is a relatively stable site with restricted access to large harvesting machinery. The nature of the crop is also suited to LISS having a varied species structure which could benefit from small interventions overtime to maintain species diversity and introduce age diversity.
C3.2.5 Current and potential markets Thinnings from the mixed crop could provide for the firewood market as well as for more niche local hardwood saw-millers although access for timber transportation may present challenges.
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C3.2.6 Pathogens
C3.2.6.1 Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) DNB previously known as Red Band Needle Blight due to the colourful symptoms it shows on pine, causes premature needle defoliation, resulting in loss of yield and, in severe cases, tree death.
Recent surveys have shown outbreaks of DNB across Scottish Lowlands Forest District however there have been no confirmed cases within Easterhouse where the pine element of the wood is only around 1%.
C3.2.6.2 Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen of plants that is causing extensive damage and mortality to trees and other plants in parts of the United Kingdom. Larch in particular is extremely vulnerable, and high infection and mortality levels are currently causing significant issues in Galloway Forest District.
At present no cases of P. ramorum have been found within Scottish Lowlands Forest District, although Easterhouse falls within Zone 2 (Medium risk of infection) in the FCS Action Plan for Larch in Scotland it is very close to the boundary with Zone 1 (High risk of infection) and therefore monitoring for the spread of this pathogen within the wood is important. Larch makes up around 2.5% of the tree cover within the Easterhouse.
C3.2.6.3 Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback) Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by a fungus, resulting in leaf loss, crown dieback and, potentially, tree death.
Ash accounts for 32.5% of the tree cover in Easterhouse where, as yet, Chalara infection has not been detected so continued monitoring for the disease is very important.
C3.3 Landscape and landuse
C3.3.1 Landscape character and value Easterhouse sits within a very visually diverse landscape with a rounded, irregular landform due the nature of its highly populated urban setting characterised by a complex matrix of roads, residential housing, schools, power lines, retail parks, woodlands and agricultural enclosures. The woodlands are perceived on the small due to how the landscape is experienced relative to the landform.
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In terms of SNH’s Landscape Character Assessment, the site is classed as Urban Greenspace. Relevant extracts from the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Landscape Character Assessment are as follows:
C3.3.2 Visibility Situated across Easterhouse the fives woods vary in their visibility from their respective surrounding areas. Despite being the largest of the woods
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Cardowan Moss due to its topography and surrounding development is only really visible as woodland edge from the roads and houses on the outskirts of the wood. Todd’s Well is again visible as woodland edge from the Fort Retail Park and Conisborough Rd but wider views of the site are available from the B806 Gartloch Road. Bishop Loch too is predominantly only viewed as woodland edge from the surrounding residential areas but there are limited glimpses of the wider wood from Gartloch Village housing development. Again Lochend Burn is predominantly viewed as edge woodland from the housing to the south. West Maryston can be seen fleetingly by passing traffic along the M8 just west of the Junction 9 slip road. The wood faces north to the housing which backs onto Denmilne Path and from Easterhouse Road.
C3.3.3 Neighbouring land use The neighbouring land use is relatively mixed, from university playing fields north of Cardowan Moss, various farm ownerships north of Todds Well, Bishop Loch and Lochend Burn and east of West Maryston to residential housing generally found to the south of all but West Maryston. Other neighbouring land includes Craigend and Commonhead Mosses and other woodland as well as the open water and associated habitats of Bishop Loch.
C3.4 Biodiversity and environmental designations
C3.4.1 Biodiversity
C3.4.1.1 Local Habitat Action Plans Glasgow City Council have nine Local Habitat Action Plans (LHAP) which influence management at Easterhouse; the LHAP on Boundary Features (hedgerows, walls & ditches) aims to maintain the quality and quantity of boundary features, protect features of conservation value and bring derelict features into appropriate management. Hawthorn hedgerows are relevant to this aim. The relevant aims of the LHAP on Broadleaved and Mixed Woodland to Easterhouse are to ensure the ecological value of broadleaved and mixed woodland is improved and to promote woodland for socio-economic and public amenity benefits. Although the area of Fen at Bishop Loch only borders the fringe of FES management area the following LHAP aims are still relevant; to ensure no net loss in area and quality of key fen and to promote sympathetic management of key fen. The relevant aims of the LHAP on Marsh to Easterhouse are to ensure no net loss in area of marsh and to promote sympathetic management. For Neutral Grassland the relevant aims are to ensure no further loss or depreciation in key sites, maintain and restore favourable management regimes and to encourage awareness and appreciation of neutral grassland. For Raised Bogs the aims relevant to
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Easterhouse are to ensure no loss in area or reduction in quality of current sites, increase the current area of active raised bog through restoration and positive management and to promote awareness and value of raised bogs. For Reedbeds which similarly as with the Fen only borders the fringe of FES management the aims relevant to Easterhouse are to ensure no net loss in area of reedbed, and to ensure viable long-term habitat conditions. For Swamp the relevant aims are to ensure no net loss in swamp and to ensure suitable management to promote long term viability. Finally for Wet Woodland the relevant aims are to ensure no net loss in area of wet woodland within the city and to promote sympathetic management of wet woodland.
C3.4.1.2 Local Habitat Statement Glasgow City Council have a Local Habitat Statement on Built Up Areas and Gardens which aims to raise awareness of biodiversity and help ensure that built up areas such as those surrounding the Easterhouse woods are managed in a more sustainable way, following best practice. Relevant objectives to Easterhouse listed in the statement include; promoting the implementation of sympathetic and sustainable management practices, raising awareness and understanding of biodiversity in the wider community, encouraging public participation in the implementation of biodiversity activities and promoting access to, and the positive recreational use of, open land.
C3.4.1.3 Local Species Action Plans Glasgow City Council has five ‘Local Species Action Plans’ (LSAP) which influence the management at Easterhouse. The relevant aims of the LSAP on Bog-Mosses to Easterhouse are to maintain the current diversity of bog- mosses within the city and to promote the value and interest of bog-mosses as indicators or habitat quality. For the LSAP on Dragonflies and Damselflies the aims relevant to Easterhouse are to maintain the current distribution and population size and to introduce appropriate habitat management to encourage viable populations. For Reed Bunting the relevant aims are to ensure no net loss of breeding Reed Buntings at Bishop Loch, to maximise existing or establish new populations at Cardowan Moss. For Tufted Loosestrife the relevant aims are to maintain the current distribution and population size and to introduce appropriate habitat management to encourage viable populations. Finally the relevant aims from the LSAP on Water Vole are to arrest the decline and encourage Water Vole population increases and to improve the management of watercourses and associate wetland habitats.
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C3.4.2 Designations
C3.4.2.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Bishop Loch A SSSI is an area of land or water that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) considers to best represent our Natural Heritage. First designated in 1971, Bishop Loch is one of the best examples in central Scotland of a base-rich loch and is one of a group of such loch to the north–east of Glasgow. The SSSI supports a full transition of vegetation from open water to fen, marsh, grassland and woodland providing rich biological diversity. The FES management area of Bishop Loch Wood comprises only a small portion (3.94 Ha) of the SSSI (76.16 ha).
C3.4.2.2 Local Nature Reserves (LNR)
Bishop Loch Bishop Loch Wood was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 1995 one of 68 designated in Scotland as of October 2013. A LNR is an area of at least locally important natural heritage, designated and managed by local authorities to give people better opportunities to learn and enjoy nature close to where they live. The wetland fringe, where the LNR boundary overlaps with that of Bishop Loch SSSI, contains a mixture of bulrush swamp and willow scrub. To the west is broadleaved woodland which planted in 1989, flanked by a strip of remnant policy woodland. Further west is an attractive birch wood and peat bog. The woodlands are interspersed with rough grassland and wild flower meadows. A footpath network allows public access throughout, and offers fine views over the loch. Habitat improvements have attracted a host of wildlife ranging from Red Admirals to Roe Deer, and a variety of bird life including Whitethroat and Bullfinch where previously there were none.
Cardowan Moss Cardowan Moss was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2006. Snipe, meadow pipit and wheatear are among the birds that thrive on this interesting site. Evidence suggests that the endangered water vole may also be found here, along with other mammals such as roe deer. Plant life includes the vibrant marsh marigold, as well as the northern marsh orchid.
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C3.4.2.3 City Wide Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (C-SINC)
Bishop Loch This designation is superseded by its status as a LNR and was awarded for similar reasons, those being its importance in providing woodland and scrub habitat with value for breeding birds as well as the wetland and grassland and their value for plants and breeding birds.
Cardowan Moss & Cardowan Drain As for Bishop Loch this designation is superseded by its status as a LNR and was awarded for similar reasons. This 45 hectare area consists of a remnant raised bog bordered by wetland habitats, grassland, with establishing plantation woodland and areas of existing woodland/scrub. Cardowan drain runs through the site flowing west to east, potentially supporting a population of the nationally declining water vole. Skylarks, wheatears and meadow pipits are among the many animals found on the raised bog. Both common frogs and common toads breed in the small areas of open water while the willow scrub provides habitat for reed buntings and other small birds.
Todd’s Well Based around a rocky outcrop this 11 hectare site is important because it supports a rich mixture of heath and marsh plant communities. Areas of recent tree planting and Hawthorn scrub provide additional wildlife interest. Birds recorded at Todd's Well include kestrel, willow warbler, whitethroat and reed bunting. Meadow brown and large white butterflies have been seen along with the locally uncommon, brightly coloured six-spot burnet moth.
C3.5 Heritage
C3.5.1 Non-scheduled archaeology An archaeological survey of the woodlands was carried out in 2011 by Rathmell Archaeology. The survey found no evidence of any scheduled monuments within the sites but did find five sites of historical or archaeological significance. The sites identified include the remains of an estate road on the northern edge of Cardowan Moss, the remnants of three boundary walls within both Cardowan Moss and Todds Well and finally the site of the former North Mains House again within Todds Well Wood all of which are of local significance.
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C3.6 Community & Recreation
C3.6.1 Community The woodlands primarily serve the suburb of Easterhouse which is recognised as one of Scotland’s most socially deprived areas. The woodlands offer an opportunity to experience nature and a restful retreat a stone's throw from an urban setting. There are several primary schools, a secondary school as well as nurseries and various community and health groups within a mile of the woodlands and therefore there is opportunity for these groups to take advantage of the woodland resource on their doorstep for educational, social and health benefits.
C3.6.2 Recreation Currently the woodlands are relatively well used by the local community by dog walkers and walkers alike, there is also some evidence of children’s play activity from rope swings and den building etc. in various locations. Antisocial behaviour afflicts some areas of these woods where activities such as substance abuse, fly-tipping and fire raising have been known to occur. Increased levels of use should be achievable with improved landscaping, signage and woodland design aimed at making the woods more attractive to potential users and less attractive to current abusers. These improvement within the woods coupled with future development of the surrounding residential areas by Glasgow City Council as well as the future attraction of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park could potentially lead to the woodlands becoming a desirable destination for users from out with the local area. From people counters installed at the entrances annual visitor numbers are estimated at approximately 45,000 across the five sites. C4.0 Analysis and Concept Using survey work and research, a broad range of factors were acknowledged and considered to recognise the site’s key features (see Maps C4a i-v) which, informed by the objectives set out in the management plan brief (see Appendix IV) were used to identify the opportunities and constraints (see Maps C4b i-v) which exist within the management plan area and from there develop an initial concept (see Table C4 Analysis and Initial Concept Development below). This initial concept was then distilled further to produce concept maps (see Maps C4c i-v) which summarise the main aspirations and intentions for the management plan. This management concept formed the main basis for the public consultation held in October 2014.
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Factor Opportunity Constraint Initial Concept Development Cardowan Moss Access & Health . Improve link to proposed . Underground gas and power lines . Upgrade existing desire line link to Frankfield Loch Local Nature in this area north east of site to path status to Reserve (LNR) and new improve connectivity with proposed communities in this area Frankfield Loch LNR and beyond. Access & Health . Develop a much improved . Uncertain plans for derelict site . Investigate potential to work in entrance and ‘green link’ from north of Tillycairn Dr. collaboration with partners and local Cardowan Moss to proposed community to create a new 'main' new housing south of Tillycairn entrance to the woodland Drive Biodiversity . Restore and enhance . Potential drainage impact on . Work with partners in accordance remaining LBAP Raised bog neighbouring land with Forestry Commission Scotland habitat creating favourable Strategy for Open Habitat and conditions for associated LBAP Lowland and Intermediate Bog to species such as Bog-mosses restore and enhance raised bog Biodiversity . Maintain, improve and protect . Manage these areas of habitat LBAP Wet Woodland, Swamp appropriately to retain their character & Marsh habitats creating and influence within the site and favourable conditions for wider environment associated LBAP species such as Reed bunting, Dragonflies and Damselflies Biodiversity . Improve habitat along drain . Manage Cardowan drain area to for water vole a LBAP species maintain/improve watervole habitat in accordance to SLFD water vole Management Plan
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Community . Create more direct link with . Potential objection from Caravan . Investigate potential to work in development Caravan Park to N.E of Park to potentially increased collaboration with partners and local Cardowan Moss footfall through their site community to develop a new path into the wood at the far north eastern corner linking with proposed improved Frankfield Loch link
Landscape . Remove sections of metal . Removal along northern edge . Remove unsightly and obsolete metal fence along northern edge of should be done in consultation fencing between northern edge of wood east of University with North Lanarkshire Council woodland and proposed Frankfield playing fields and on south Loch Local Nature Reserve west corner alongside Riggside Road. to remove barriers to access and improve appearance Landscape . Improve entrance appeal at . Plant individual or small groups of Darnaway Avenue using trees to frame view into and across design the woodland canopy and create a more inviting entrance and interesting vista Todds Well Access & Health . Create new path link to the . Currently limited access into this . Investigate potential to work in west of Todds Well parallel corner of the wood to remove collaboration with partners and local with Auchinlea Rd. with trees necessary to create path. community to develop a new path entrance at Gartloch Rd. / . Path would need to be boarded to into the wood at the south western Auchinlea Rd. junction cross swamp habitat to link up corner linking with existing path enhancing the Seven Lochs with internal path network network. Trail by reducing the length of the route along roadside as well as linking with proposed housing development to the east
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Access & Health . Link Todds Well with proposed . Relocating current entrance along . Investigate in collaboration with Seven Lochs Wetland Park Auchinlea Rd. would be disruptive partners and local community with a (SLWP) new visitor gateway at and would need to be done in view to relocate existing entrance Provan Hall consultation with GCC to into the wood to link with SLWP incorporate appropriate traffic visitor gateway at Provan Hall management to make crossing between new linkage safe Access & Health . Develop circular walk within . Limited area available . Create new path along top of ridge to Todds Well to extend visitor the south of the wood linking to experience existing path to create circular walk Biodiversity . Maintain, improve and protect . Manage these areas of habitat LBAP Neutral Grassland & appropriately to retain their character Swamp habitat creating and influence within the site and favourable conditions for wider environment Dragonflies and Damselflies Landscape . Improve visual appeal along . Create a mowing regime along south western edge of wood Auchinlea Rd. to maintain a managed by tackling litter intrusion and appealing appearance to woodland overgrown edge edge. Use volunteers to collect litter blown in or dropped from roadside. Bishop Loch Biodiversity . Maintain and enhance where . Manage the areas of Wet Woodland, appropriate LBAP Wet Fen, Reedbeds, Raised Bog, Swamp Woodland, Fen, Reedbeds, & Open Water habitat appropriately Raised Bog, Swamp & Open to retain their character and Water Habitats and associates influence within the site and wider LBAP species such as Bog environment. Mosses, Reed Bunting, Tufted Loosestrife, Dragonflies & Damselflies. Enhancement of remnant peat habitats along northern edge will link to Glasgow City Council proposal for extension to existing LNR
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Biodiversity . Maintain areas of heath . Manage the area of heathy grassland grassland habitat near the habitat appropriately to retain their eastern entrance for locally character and influence within the rare Greater Butterfly Orchid site and wider environment Biodiversity . Remove Invasive Japanese . Potential spread to other sites . Professional removal and disposal of knotweed near eastern Japanese knotweed entrance north of Auchingill Rd. Business . Encourage and support . Use areas such as the mature avenue development education use at Bishop Loch of sycamore and oak north of Colfin in partnership with nearby St. and the nearby wetland and schools ponds as hubs for forest school use. Community . Future access improvement . Uncertain timescales for housing . Investigate in collaboration with development along woodland edge linked to development partners and local community adjacent proposals for housing improving existing access into woods (H027, H046 & H099). via Baldragon Rd. and east of playing field north of Westerhouse Rd. Community . Install seating to appreciate . Potential for vandalism of seats. . Use appropriate materials to create a development views across loch rest stop to appreciated excellent views out over loch. . Coppice portions of the existing trees . Loss of views from trees north of to maintain views in perpetuity and the path remove seedlings to prevent spread of woodland cover Landscape . Improve visual appeal along . Potential impact on future views . Plant individual or small groups of path by means of design using north from Baldragon Rd. trees to add visual interest as well as minimal planting elements of shade and shelter along open banking
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Landscape . Improve visual appearance of . Uncertain plans for immediate . Work in collaboration with partners to wood near Colfin St. entrance surrounding area investigate ways to reduce antisocial behaviour in this area and improve appearance. . Potentially look to 'grow over' path and use temporary greening of derelict area to close off this entrance diverting footfall via Baldragon Rd. Landscape . Temporary Greening to . Uncertain plans for immediate . Work in collaboration with partners to derelict area SE of Bishop Loch surrounding area. use temporary greening of derelict to improve visual appearance . Establishment and protection area north of Auchingill Rd where implications. Some of the heathy appropriate. areas are habitat to locally rare Greater Butterfly Orchid Lochend Burn Access & Health . Future creation of green links . Uncertain adjacent development . Work in collaboration with partners, to north of Lochend Burn and scheme layout and where future local community and developers to enhancement of woodland access links will be best placed incorporate suitable access to the associated with Community woodlands and wider SLWP path Growth Area (CGA) H116 to network. the north. Biodiversity . Improve wet woodland and . Uncertain impact of future . Manage these areas of habitat wetland habitats along the adjacent development appropriately to retain their character burn for specific BAP target and influence within the site and species in this area i.e. Pearl- wider environment. Bordered Fritillary and Green Hairstreak Butterflies and water vole Biodiversity . Create a wildflower meadow . Establishment difficulties, richness . Improve the biodiversity of the open along open utilities wayleave of soil etc. Maintenance costs area on the east of the wood by to east of wood creating a wildflower meadow encouraging butterflies and other invertebrates as well as improving the visual appearance of the wood
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
Community . Future access improvements . Uncertain adjacent development . Work in collaboration with partners, development and enhancement of woodland scheme layout and where future local community and developers to edge to south linked to GCC access links will be best placed incorporate suitable access to the housing proposal H019 woodlands and wider SLWP path network. Landscape . Urban greening to enhance . Cost of establishment and . Work in collaboration with partners to the southern edge of Lochend protection use temporary greening of derelict Burn to improve visual area south east of the wood adjacent appearance to proposed housing development H019 and linking with the proposed extension to Commonhead Moss Local Nature Reserve Landscape . Improve woodland southern . Loss of screening effect from . Thin out over time the hawthorn edge along Twinlaw St. to within wood edge trees and replace with other break up hawthorn hedge species such as rowan, gean and oak effect, promote transition and retaining some gaps to allow for connections between new glimpsed views and desire line development and established access. areas West Maryston Access & Health . Woodland / Commonhead Rd. . Uncertain adjacent development . Work in collaboration with partners, to act as part of a green route scheme layout within H115 CGA local community and developers to / cycle route linking and where future access links will link existing paths to the wider SLWP Easterhouse and Coatbridge be best placed. path network at appropriate points taking in the route of . Potential requirement of new Monklands Canal cycle paths to be created. Access & Health . Woodland enhancement linked . Possible future housing . Work in collaboration with partners, to CGA masterplan development would impact on local community and developers to views manage FES woodlands sympathetically with adjacent developments and potential external non-FE woodland expansion
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
Access & Health . Develop short mountain bike . Possible objection from other . Work in collaboration with partners skills loop linked to cycle users such as walkers and dog and local community to investigate route. walkers. the potential for woodland to be . Limited site area. incorporate a cycle trail . Potential objection from current/future landowners of adjacent open ground. . Noise from M8 traffic off-putting for recreation seekers. Access & Health . Improve access along existing . Potential objection from . Work in collaboration with desire lines to extend current/future landowner of neighbours, partners and local woodland path network and adjacent open land. community to investigate the improve visitor experience and potential for improved low level increase length of stay maintenance of desire lines on eastern side of wood to connect with more formal western path network and Rogerfield Rd. and thus the wider SLWP path network Business . Potential function as a . Current poor entrance and kerb . Work in collaboration with partners development gateway to Seven Lochs appeal of the wood from and local community to create an Wetland Park from Easterhouse Rd/closed off improved entrance into the wood and Easterhouse station with Rogerfield Rd. SLWP further up Easterhouse Rd potential onward linkage to . Uncertain plans for future of away from the slip road off the M8 the rest of the park via CGA Rogerfield Rd. and landscape Rogerfield Rd. to H115 improve it as a main cycle link. Business . Extend woodland management . Uncertain ownership of this area. . Investigate with partners the development into open area as part of possibility synchronising the area of masterplan / planning open ground with FES management. agreement for CGA
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
Landscape . Improve transitional area . Potential indifference to improving . Investigate in collaboration with between woodland edge and the area. neighbours, local community and neglected parking bays and partners the possibility of FES surrounding green area on working with the community to Denmilne Path to rear of manage the non-FES transition area. residential properties on FES to thin out the woodland edge to Denmilne St. improve views into the wood and visibility. Landscape . Increase woodland edge and . Establishment & protection . Plant small open area with suitable buffer into small sliver of FES difficulties. species such as alder and willow to managed open land area along . Uncertain plans for future use of improve 'green network' between the Rogerfield Rd. adjacent non-FES managed land wood and non-FES woodland to the east. All Sites Access & Health . Encourage more visitors to the . Potential increased antisocial use . Increased signage to encourage wood particularly from the of the woods. visitors in and provide improved immediate residential vicinity. . Damage to increased or improved linkage between the woods and with signage. wider area. . Improve access and safety in . Unknown ownership of fencing. the wood. . Maintain good lines of sight along paths and through woods to improve feeling of safety by high pruning of groups and individual trees and . Encourage use of the . Time required to establish links felling if necessary. woodland for recreation and with local clubs and community to . Promote woodland as a place to exercise promote the woods come to walk, run, and cycle or stage events such as orienteering or wildlife watching. Working with partners such as Seven Lochs Wetland Park Project (SLWPP). . Maintain a mowing regime along path verges particularly narrow areas during growing season to maintain access free of overgrowth.
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Biodiversity . Remove invasive species . Cost of operations and . Professional removal of species such where appropriate. monitoring. as Japanese knotweed. . Manage to encourage a future . Future management of the varied tree age and species . Small nature of such work makes woodlands using Low Impact structure. the operations unattractive to Silvicultural Systems. contractors. . Potential to use volunteers to carry out re-spacing. Larger scale thinnings by contractors using small machinery. . Survey and record species sightings . Thinning may impact on species or habitat and take appropriate habitat. action to mitigate against impact from any operations. . Improve habitat for birds and mammals . Where regeneration of desired species is proving unsuccessful, . Potential tree damage from enrichment plant using tubes to animal browsing . protect. . Leave an element of timber from operations on site for dead wood to stimulate biodiversity up the food chain.
Business . Work with and support local . Potential for conflicting objectives . Encourage volunteer and community development social enterprises and of different groups. involvement with small scale creation volunteer groups. . Health and Safety concerns using of more varied ‘spaces’ along paths volunteers for small operations. particularly the longer straighter paths, formative pruning or invasive species removal.
. Look at opportunities with local . Potential for vandalism to partners to identify suitable areas for interpretive structures. . Interpret the heritage and interpretive displays. natural heritage within and around the sites for education
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
purposes and visitor interest
Community . Increase community . Difficulty in promoting the wood . Investigate/Identify potential development involvement in the woods. to new users. partners for community projects such . Cost of organising events and as a creation of a potential food for activities. free area. . Potential antisocial use of the . Encourage local school groups and woods. other community groups to visit the woods (Forest schools etc). . Discourage anti-social use of . Time, cost and difficulty to gain . Involve local woods community buy in and ownership groups/schools/volunteers in planting of the woods to self-police and or clean-up operations to develop a discourage misuse sense of local community ownership and pride in the woods. . Careful design of tree planting, pruning or removal to discourage areas being misused.
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
Landscape . Improve views into and within . Risk of alienating users by . Manage the wood to maintain a the wood. changing what they are used to. broad range of tree species and age . Diseases such as Ash dieback, classes. Dothistroma Needle Blight on pine . Use both micro-scale felling and and Phytopthera ramorum on planting along path edges to create a larch should they arrive, could variety of ‘spaces’ along their length seriously alter the aesthetic of the to improve the visitor experience. wood as well as the age structure. . Involve local volunteers/community . Establishment & Protection in ‘space’ creation. Retain/Plant difficulties future feature trees at welcome
Potential losses through anti- zones and along paths etc. social behaviour and browsing. . Plant more trees strategically along . Loss of other habitats. paths and in certain open spaces to improve transition between spaces, opportunities to frame or screen
views, provide shelter and shade, define boundaries and enhance the woodland experience. . In conjunction with partners and local community look to improve various
threshold areas and keep on top of
fly-tipping at these points. . Remove unsightly metal security fences to reduce barrier to informal access. . Plant individual or small groups of . More conifers may detract from the current character of the wood amenity conifers particularly in . Increase the conifer element appropriate areas visible from paths for winter colour and increased to provide more winter colour, diversity variety of texture and character.
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
Timber . Market timber from small . Operations may not be economic. . Manage woodlands using Low Impact scale thinnings or fellings to . Reduced public / community Silvilcultural Systems of Forestry firewood processors and niche access to woods during . Develop a varied age and species hardwood saw-millers operations. structure over time throughout the . Limited/No access for timber woods. transport . Identify and tend potential final crop trees as to promote good form benefiting the aesthetic of the wood and for potential niche markets in the future. . Retain a proportion of diverse formed trees as well to retain natural character.
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
C5.0 Management Proposals
Due to the nature of these woods many of the management proposals for Easterhouse are not solely the gift of FES to deliver as part of our regular management of our sites. Much of what is proposed for Easterhouse Woods will be dependent on various factors such as the availability of suitable funding, consultation with neighbours/community, access agreements etc. Such proposals constitute possible future projects for FES to be delivered in partnership/agreement with others. Appendix II – Management Table highlights which aspects of the management of the site fall under our ‘general management functions’ and which might constitute a ‘potential future project’. The associated maps C5d-e indicate where on the ground various tasks listed in Appendix II would be focused. The following section details the management proposals for the wood and where applicable refers to Appendix II and Maps C5d-e the former containing some general management tasks not detailed below.
C5.1 Woodland Management The proposals for this site have been produced based on sound silvicultural and environmental principles and follow the requirements, guidelines and recommendations set out within the UK Forestry Standard, the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme, FC Bulletin 124 Ecological Site Classification for Forestry and FC Bulletin 62 Silviculture of Broadleaved Woodland, FC Bulletin 115 Alternative Silvicultural Systems and the current FC edition of Forest and Water Guidelines.
C5.1.1 Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) Each of the woodlands that make up the Easterhouse woods primarily provides important amenity and biodiversity value and producing timber or forest products is a much less significant influence on the management of the woods. With this in mind the intention for the woods is to balance appropriate management of the various visitor zones throughout the sites whilst creating the conditions which will encourage the healthy growth and regeneration of a mix of species and strata in perpetuity. Achieving this balance will require coordination of both the WIAT Forest Management team and the CRT team. The WIAT FM team will concentrate on silvicultural thinnings primarily within the passive and interactive management zones whilst CRT will focus on aesthetic interventions to improve the visual appreciation of the sites for the visitor by way of light thinning, crown lifting and coppicing within the welcome
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and interactive management zones (see Maps C5a – Operational Management & C5b – Visitor Zone Management). The following subsections outline the WIAT FM silvicultural thinning proposals.
C5.1.1.1 All Easterhouse Woods Each of the sites that make up the Easterhouse Woods is predominantly P1990’s mixed woodland and as such, on the whole, similar methods of silviculture will be applicable across each. In mind of the crop age and the species mix an initial crown thinning intervention will take place within the first 5 years of the plan life. Further crown thinnings will take place every 7-10 years at varying intensities throughout the crop in order to create a more irregular mixed stand and, over time, allow for a less even aged structure most likely using either shelterwood or selection system of management removing single or groups of trees. Setting out target bole height and dbh for the various species in the current rotation is not appropriate as much of the crop has suffered from a lack of appropriate tending from establishment through to thicket/pole stage and is suffering from poor form and will only likely be marketable as firewood in future. Despite the limitations of the current crop managing its development to encourage optimum conditions for future natural regeneration is an appropriate management objective. It should be noted that the oak within the current stand has not yet reached the suitable age for first thinning and will not reach this for another 10-15 years and therefore the initial interventions will favour the climax species. Introduction of suitable woodland ground flora to the thinned areas would benefit biodiversity.
C5.2 Future habitats and species
C5.2.1 Woodland habitat The Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) characterised four different native woodland habitat types within Easterhouse which encompass virtually all of the wooded area within the sites. The habitats identified were ‘lowland mixed deciduous woodland’; ‘wet woodland’; ‘upland birchwood’ and ‘unidentifiable type’.
Existing matrices
Lowland Mixed deciduous woodland The vast majority of both Cardowan Moss and Todd’s Well were identified in the NWSS as being characterised by this native woodland type and as such the proposed LISS outlined above will maintain this woodland type.
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Glasgow Woods Land Management Plan 2015- 2025
Wet woodland The eastern end of the drainage channel which runs through the middle of Cardowan Moss was identified in the NWSS as being characterised as native wet woodland. This area sits between marsh land to the west and lowland raised bog to the east and as such the woodland will be prevented from spreading onto either of these habitats.
Upland birchwood Much of Craigend Wood within Bishop Loch was identified in the NWSS as upland birchwood this area will have minimum intervention which will retain its character. Around a third of the upland birchwood is also designated as Ancient Woodland of semi-natural origin.
Unidentifiable type This classification covers most of the remaining wooded areas across the sites i.e. Bishop Loch, Lochend Burn and West Maryston. The unidentifiable description refers to the fact that there is no dominant priority woodland type despite the nativeness of the tree species. The proposed LISS outlined above will maintain the nativeness of these woods.
C5.2.1.1 Prescriptions The small area of new planting shown on Map C5c – Future habitats & species within West Maryston will be planted sympathetic of the surrounding woodland. The table below lists the area of proposed new planting (not including areas identified within the concept which may be planted for ‘short rotation greening’).
Table C5 – Proposed Species Species/Habitat Type Gross Area (ha) % of total Net Area (ha) area Mixed broadleaves (W7 type) 0.50 0.5 0.45
Total 0.50 0.5 0.45
C5.2.2 Open land Fen/Marsh/Swamp - The district will continue to keep these habitats clear of any trees which may seed in from the surrounding woodland to prevent carr scrub from establishing.
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Raised bog – Work to block drains and help the bog to wet up has already been carried out and the district will continue to keep this habitat free from trees seeding in.
Neutral grassland – The district will continue to manage this habitat by way of cutting and lifting of sward to keep nutrient levels low whilst maintaining, and where appropriate enriching with, suitable flora for the benefit of invertebrates.
Wildflower meadow – Should a wildflower meadow be established at Lochend Burn, it will be created and managed appropriately to deplete nutrients and to benefit invertebrates.
C5.3 Biodiversity & Heritage
C5.3.1 Deadwood It is the aim to utilise natural processes retaining dead, windblown or snapped stems or those created during previous operations. Deadwood can be trees or limbs in the early stage of decomposition, e.g. veterans or dying individual trees. These should be retained wherever possible to create an even mix of standing, fallen or stacked deadwood.
It is the district policy to contribute around 20m3/ha of deadwood averaged across the whole woodland area in each forest block. This aspiration is dependent on the site type and long term objectives. At Easterhouse for the vast majority of the area the deadwood potential has been estimated as low and as such the following SLFD policy approach should be adopted:
. Retain veterans, standing & fallen dead stems and some stumps. . Harvest windblow only when it is economic or required to make the site safe. . Leave stems of no commercial value to die through shading. . If advised, create deadwood stacks and small retentions of live trees and shrubs, to a minimum of 3% of total stem volume.
The drain that runs through Cardowan Moss has been estimated as high deadwood potential and the areas of mature woodland in Bishop Loch have been estimated as medium; as such the following SLFD policy should be adopted.
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• Retain veterans, standing & fallen dead stems, windblow and some stumps. • Consider felling non-native trees (and leaving in situ).
These approaches should be weighed against the health and safety implications in regard to priority visitor zoning areas detailed within the FC Practice Guide Managing Deadwood in Forests & Woodlands and appropriate steps should be taken to balance the approach above with public safety.
C5.3.2 Invasive species Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) - An eradication programme of Japanese knotweed is in place within affected sites across the district in accordance with the District Invasive Non-Native Species Plan 2014-2019. Control is initially through stem injection of glyphosate and then a follow up foliar spray or stem inject the next year. The next stage will be to re-cover the affected areas with appropriate species to prevent re-establishment. It is planned to rake and burn the remaining material after the follow up spray and to reseed or plant the ground (see Appendix II & Map C5e).
C5.3.3 Wildlife management Easterhouse has a resident population of peri-urban roe deer which, at present have a minimal effect on the trees but could hinder future prospects for natural regeneration. Due to Easterhouse’s proximity to residential areas coupled with the irregular hours the woods can be visited, the site, along with the other Glasgow Woods, is not managed through sustainable culling; therefore tree guards will most likely be the method employed to encourage establishment if and where natural generation proves unsuccessful.
Further details on deer management within the Glasgow area can be found within the Scottish Lowlands Forest District Deer Management Strategy (in conjunction with the Deer Overview Map).
C5.3.4 Heritage The features described in the archaeological survey as of local significance will not be unnecessarily damaged and operations will be conducted in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard Guidelines on Forests and the Historic Environment.
C5.4 Community & Recreation
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FES district staff will continue to liaise with the local community to promote and encourage use of the wood and Community Rangers will continue to seek opportunities to develop new and forge existing links with schools, community and user groups to increase awareness and enjoyment of the wood.
C5.4.1 Community There is a large population in close proximity to the woods and whilst FES have done much to improve paths, litter and anti-social behaviour with an increased on-site presence, much of the challenge to provide a green space the community have an active involvement with and have a sense of shared ownership of is hampered by a combination of factors including wildlife crime, antisocial behaviour and areas of surrounding neglect with in some cases hazardous remnant infrastructure. Appendix II and Map C5d list the continued maintenance schedule FES will carry out over the life of the plan as well as potential projects in the wood to be explored with the aims of providing a benefit to the wood and in turn a long-term benefit to the community e.g. temporary greening of neglected areas, removal of obsolete infrastructure & improving access.
C5.4.2 Recreation Appendix II and Map C5d lists various maintenance tasks that FES will continue to carry out through the life of the plan as well as several potential aspiration projects such as new path links and natural play areas.
C5.5 Access
C5.5.1 Visitor Of the current access provision of 26 entrances, 19 are more formal with either one or a combination of a surfaced path leading from a pavement, a threshold sign, a way-marked post or a landscaped walled entrance with the remaining 12 being less formal, usually just a desire line leading into the wood. This capacity allows for relatively good pedestrian access to the woods. Of the 18 more formal entrances only 9 of these have FC branded signage to emphasise FES management. Appendix II and Map C5d detail some general maintenance and potential projects which would improve visitor access to the site.
C5.5.2 Management In terms of management access there are no forest roads in any of the woods and at present only the partially surfaced track running east from Avenue End Road along the northern boundary of Cardowan Moss has any semblance of perhaps serving as such in the future. With that being the case operational
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access at present in many cases would require agreement with neighbours both to enter the sites and to stack timber out-with them. Appendix II & Map C5d identifies these as projects to be undertaken during the life of the plan. In the long-term having dedicated operational access to each of the three sites would be the ideal however the long-term future management of the site beyond the life of the plan will need to be formalised prior to any major infrastructure investment and as such these discussions will take place within the life of this plan.
C5.6 Critical Success Factors The success of this plan will be based on whether the objectives set out in the Management Plan Brief (see Appendix IV) are achieved. The table which forms Appendix V details how each objective will be appraised, where and when each objective will be monitored; by who and where it will be recorded. This will enable an evaluation of success as part of the mid and end of plan reviews.
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