Elmstead Market

Elmstead Market Elmstead Market Management Plan 2017-2022 Elmstead Market MANAGEMENT PLAN - CONTENTS PAGE ITEM Page No. Introduction Plan review and updating Woodland Management Approach Summary 1.0 Site details 2.0 Site description 2.1 Summary Description 2.2 Extended Description 3.0 Public access information 3.1 Getting there 3.2 Access / Walks 4.0 Long term policy 5.0 Key Features 5.1 New Native Woodland 5.2 Semi Natural Open Ground Habitat 5.3 Informal Public Access 5.4 Ancient Semi Natural Woodland 6.0 Work Programme Appendix 1: Compartment descriptions Glossary MAPS Access Conservation Features Management 2 Elmstead Market THE WOODLAND TRUST INTRODUCTION PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATING The Trust¶s corporate aims and management The information presented in this Management approach guide the management of all the plan is held in a database which is continuously Trust¶s properties, and are described on Page 4. being amended and updated on our website. These determine basic management policies Consequently this printed version may quickly and methods, which apply to all sites unless become out of date, particularly in relation to the specifically stated otherwise. Such policies planned work programme and on-going include free public access; keeping local people monitoring observations. informed of major proposed work; the retention Please either consult The Woodland Trust of old trees and dead wood; and a desire for website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or contact the management to be as unobtrusive as possible. Woodland Trust The Trust also has available Policy Statements ([email protected]) to confirm covering a variety of woodland management details of the current management programme. issues. There is a formal review of this plan every 5 The Trust¶s management plans are based on the years and a summary of monitoring results can identification of Key Features for the site and be obtained on request. setting objectives for their management. A monitoring programme (not included in this plan) ensures that these objectives are met and any necessary management works are carried out. Any legally confidential or sensitive species information about this site is not included in this version of the plan. 3 Elmstead Market WOODLAND MANAGEMENT APPROACH The management of our woods is based on our charitable purposes, and is therefore focused on improving woodland biodiversity and increasing peoples¶understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Our strategic aims are to: Protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future Work with others to create more native woodlands and places rich in trees Inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees All our sites have a management plan which is freely accessible via our website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk. Our woods are managed to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard 8.:$6 DQGDUHFHUWLILHGZLWKWKH)RUHVW6WHZDUGVKLS&RXQFLO )6& XQGHUOLFHQFH)6& C009406 and through independent audit. In addition to the guidelines below we have specific guidance and policies on issues of woodland management which we review and update from time to time. We recognise that all woods are different and that the management of our sites should also reflect their local landscape and where appropriate support local projects and initiatives. Guidelines like these provide a necessary overarching framework to guide the management of our sites but such management also requires decisions based on local circumstances and our Site Manager¶s intimate knowledge of each site. The following guidelines help to direct our woodland management: 1. Our woods are managed to maintain their intrinsic key features of value and to reflect those of the surrounding landscape. We intervene when there is evidence that it is necessary to maintain or improve biodiversity and to further the development of more resilient woods and landscapes. 2. We establish new native woodland using both natural regeneration and tree planting, but largely the latter, particularly when there are opportunities for involving people. 3. We provide free public access to woods for quiet, informal recreation and our woods are managed to make them accessible, welcoming and safe. 4. The long term vision for our non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites is to restore them to predominantly native species composition and semi-natural structure, a vision that equally applies to our secondary woods. 5. Existing semi-natural open-ground and freshwater habitats are restored and maintained wherever their management can be sustained and new open ground habitats created where appropriate. 6. The heritage and cultural value of sites is taken into account in our management and, in particular, our ancient trees are retained for as long as possible. 7. Woods can offer the potential to generate income both from the sustainable harvesting of wood products and the delivery of other services. We will therefore consider the potential to generate income from our estate to help support our aims. 8. We work with neighbours, local people, organisations and other stakeholders in developing the management of our woods. We recognise the benefits of local community woodland ownership and management. Where appropriate we allow our woods to be used to support local woodland, conservation, education and access initiatives. 9. We use and offer the estate where appropriate, for the purpose of demonstration, evidence gathering and research associated with the conservation, recreational and sustainable management of woodlands. In particular we will develop and maintain a network of long-term monitoring sites across the estate. 10 Any activities we undertake will conform to sustainable forest management principles, be appropriate for the site and will be balanced with our primary objectives of enhancing the biodiversity and recreational value of our woods and the wider landscapes. 4 Elmstead Market SUMMARY This public management plan briefly describes the site, specifically mentions information on public access, sets out the long term policy and lists the Key Features which drive management actions. The Key Features are specific to this site ±their significance is outlined together with their long (50 year+) and short (5 year) term objectives. The short term objectives are complemented by a detailed Work Programme for the period of this management plan. Detailed compartment descriptions are listed in the appendices which include any major management constraints and designations. A short glossary of technical terms is at the end. The Key Features and general woodland condition of this site are subject to a formal monitoring programme which is maintained in a central database. A summary of monitoring results is available on request. 1.0 SITE DETAILS Site name: Elmstead Market Location: Colchester Grid reference: TM073249, OS 1:50,000 Sheet No. 168 Area: 42.06 hectares (103.93 acres) Designations: Ancient Semi Natural Woodland, Archeological Site 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Summary Description This new woodland creation project will see thousands of tree planted, providing a valuable resource for local people and wildlife. Breeding barn owls and buzzards are already in residence ±other species invited. 5 Elmstead Market 2.2 Extended Description The site at Elmstead is former arable farmland once part of Lodge Farm which the site is adjacent to. It is situated east of Colchester in an area of generally flat open country, on the eastern edge of the interfluvial plateau between two tributaries of the River Colne: to the west, the Salary Brook and the to the North and East, the Bromley Brook and Tenpenny Brook. The north and south boundaries are formed by the A120 and the Bromley Road. Within these boundaries the area of the site is comprised of the floor and gently sloping sides of the Tenpenny Brook valley. A shallow subsidiary valley, cut by a small stream which is little more than a drainage ditch, runs across the southern half of the site south of Lodge Farm, joining Tenpenny Brook about 150m before it flows under the Bromley road and out of the site. The site is thought to have been part of a park (Elmstead Park) thought to date from at least the 17th century and which had largely been converted to farmland by 1845 Tithe Map. Maps from 1655 show Mill Wood to have been an area of pasture woodland and overall the land was generally less treed in 1655 than it is currently. On acquisition much of the site has been planted with new woodland leaving a corridor 50m either side of Tenpenny Brook as semi natural open ground with new ponds and wetland habitats. Additional open ground areas are located where for archaeological reason new woodland could not be planted or to avoid planting trees too close to neighbours residences. The latter area has been sown to wildflowers with a clumped planting of trees to create an open pasture woodland type habitat. One of the former areas has been developed into an outdoor education area with a large chainsaw sculpture and cherry orchard while the second area is being left to develop naturally. Key species found on site are Buzzards and Barn owls both of which nest on site. Water voles area also recorded on site but may have been lost recently due to mink predation. 3.0 PUBLIC ACCESS INFORMATION 3.1 Getting there Event only parking is available on site by agreement with visitor parking available nearby at the village car park. The site entrance adjoins the National Cycle route 51 with regular buses from Colchester to Elmstead Market run by First Bus Company. Nearest Train station is at Colchester with Wivenhoe also nearby with scope for an attractive walk to the site. Pedestrian only access is permitted on site with a network of regularly cut grassy paths. Medium mobility Centre Wire kissing gates are used to provide access onto grazing fields with four foot gates giving access elsewhere where a pedestrian gate is needed and there are no livestock.

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