WEST ENGLAND FOREST DISTRICT East Beat

FOREST PLAN

Haywood & Castiard Vale

Plan period 2014 – 2024

FCE File Ref: OP10/41 FS File Ref: Haywood: FOD 2/91 Castiard Vale: GL/1/5/2.59

Haywood & Castiard Vale Francis Raymond-Barker Planning Forester (North) January 2014 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Forest Plan Plan Period 2014 - 2024 Contents Page 1 Summary and Preface 2 & 3 General Description Location 4 Tenure & Management Agreements 5 & 6 Physical Environment 6 & 7 Landscape Setting 8 & 9 Current Woodland Structure 10 - 13 Objectives of Management 14 Silviculture Species Choice 14 - 18 Future alternative Species 18 - 20 Age-class Structure 21 - 23 Thinning & Felling: native woodland restoration 24 - 31 Woodland Naturalness 31 - 32 Conservation 33 - 37 Woodland Structure 38 - 40 The meeting of objectives 41 - 46 Option Testing 46 - 49 Appendices: A1-Stucture, species and age by block A2-Pests/disease A2-Welshbury SAM A4-Glossary Maps Location Geology, Soils and Landform Current Species and Age-class Woodland Naturalness and NVC Communities Ancient Woodland from provisional register Archaeology Conservation features (including conservation areas) Conservation features - Bat map Other constraints, utilities, mines and quarries Public Access Site Analysis and Design Concept Silvicultural systems and coppicing Felling Plan and restocking 2014 – 2024 Felling Coupes 2020 – 2051 including felling coupes in adj. FP areas Current Stocking information (over 3 pages) Indicative future species at year 10 (2024) and at year 40 (2054) Indicative Habitat types at year 40 (2054) Transition to Native Woodland over time Landscape Assessments of management proposals

1 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

PLAN SUMMARY

This plan will begin the process of altering the structure and diversity of the woodland so that over the next few decades it is hoped a healthier and more robust forest will be begin to emerge for the future.

This vision will be taken forward in the following ways: o Species composition will become more diverse through planting of a much wider variety of native broadleaves such as Hazel, Small Leaved Lime, Cherry, Field Maple, Hornbeam, Whitebeam, Wild Service and Wych Elm. Along with the use of natural regeneration where appropriate. This should result in and overall increase of broadleaf coverage in the plan area of around 15% over the 40 year plan period. o The content of Corsican Pine will gradually reduce in favour of establishing higher proportions of open habitat that will see approximately 60 Ha of newly created open habitat by year 40 of the plan period, giving a total open habitat area equating to some 170 Ha. o Other conifers such as Scots Pine, Douglas Fir, Coastal Redwood and Red Cedar and will also help achieve the objective of adding diversity and resilience for the future.

2 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

PREFACE

The amalgamation of the old Haywood and Flaxley plans make sense when you realise how the easterly slopes of Edgehills play an important and integral part in creating the intimate yet broad landscape that the Castiard Vale enjoys.

The plan will try and perpetuate the unique and individual “sense of place” that each area enjoys such as those experienced in Welshbury within the native Small Leaved Lime areas; but equally in Haywood where a long- term vision for the expansion of open habitats and lowland heath will create a different and more interesting “sense of place” than currently experienced by having a much more open feel that will also add diversity to the woodland users experience.

Secondly the plan looks at the challenging proposition for restoration of native woodland and how best to attain a forest for the future resilient against changes in climate and the constant threats posed by tree diseases new to this country. (see appendix 1)

The plan will try and ensure the woodland becomes more resilient by diversifying the future structure and tree species composition. Some sites will see a faster reversion by use of more conventional clearfelling and restocking methods, whilst other sites will have a slower transition by thinning to benefit broadleaf trees, promote natural regeneration and create gaps during thinning that can be planted with a wide variety of native species. It is hoped this approach will help to:
Minimise future risk posed by climate and disease.
Protect both cultural and heritage features of the plan area.
Enhance the conservation value to both flora and wildlife.
Continue to provide a sustainable supply of wood products.

Lastly the plan looks to improve the future quality of landscape, not only internally by the diversity of species, a variable age structure and the amount of open space being proposed, but by also redesigning felling areas (coupes) and in other places restock coupes that both have high visual cues within the wider landscape and currently fall short of good landscaping principals. Two good examples of this are given below: o The eastern slopes of Flaxley where coupe boundaries in the old plan are currently designed to be perpendicular to the slope, do not engage sympathetically with the landform and are very visible from the A4136 coming from the Longhope direction. o Looking in a westerly direction into Haywood from Winners Garage, where the landscape is dominated by blocky geometric patterns caused by power lines, forest roads/rides and current boundaries of where species change.

3 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Topic Description Implications for Proposals Management Location In combination, Haywood, Haywood has a Landscaping will be an Edgehills and the Castiard landform that is highly important objective Vale woodlands that visible from a wide within the plan: comprise of Flaxley Wood, variety of aspects and • For the eastern slopes Welshbury Wood and distances; whilst the of Flaxley where Chestnuts Wood make up eastern slopes of coupe boundaries are the plan area with the Edgehills and the currently in conflict Castiard Vale woodlands three woodlands of with visual cues within being the most easterly the Castiard Vale form the landscape; and is woodlands within the a prominent feature in overlooked from the Forest of Dean main block. the wider landscape, north east by the being very evocative A4136 and the village With a mixture of and emotive with the of Longhope. broadleaved, coniferous local people. • Where statutory felling and mixed woodland along of Phytophthora with open habitats the The whole of the plan ramorum infected plan area totals 840Ha of area is frequently Larch on the western which 550 Ha lies within accessed by local slopes of Haywood the Statutory Boundary of people at numerous brings forward the Forest of Dean and the points around the opportunities to remaining 290 Ha lies boundaries of the improve the quality of outside this boundary. woodland for informal landscape. (see locational map) recreational activities • To manage the such as dog walking integrity of Welshbury The main town of and horse riding and Hill Fort that has high Cinderford and the village cycling. priority due to threat of Littledean both lie south of wind throw. of Haywood and Chestnuts Social factors will need Wood, whilst to the north prominent consideration of Haywood can be found too, e.g. scale of clearfell the smaller towns of coupes, species choice for Drybrook and Mitcheldean restocking and internal with the villages of Harrow landscaping that will all Hill and Ruardean Hill play an important part in closer by; to the north of promoting a healthy Flaxley Wood on the “sense of place” and A4136 lies the village of improve the quality of the Longhope. visitor / user experience.

4 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Tenure & Haywood, Edgehills and Areas within the Group plantings and Management the woodlands of Flaxley, Statutory Forest give Natural regeneration will Agreements Welshbury and Chestnuts flexibility when be used alongside are all freehold. restocking. clearfelling that will remain a tool for control Haywood and Chestnuts Sheep grazing is much for plant health issues Wood are within the less of an issue since and landscape re- Statutory Forest of Dean, the foot and mouth modelling. whilst Flaxley and epidemic in 2001. Welshbury lie outside the Species choice will be statutory boundary. More of an issue is the varied and diverse and increasing pressure will mean appropriate that deer presents protection methods* with an increasing should be employed for population of muntjac. establishment purposes where deer pressure may present a risk to establishment of the future crop. *I.e. a mixture of fencing, tree shelters and deer control.

Within Haywood lie two These lie within areas Work will be carried out SSSIs, one for bats the of woodland with high in accordance with SAM other for being geological. conservation interest. plans and SSSI plans following relevant European Protected Species regulations.

Welshbury contains a late At somewhere The area of the SAM in Iron Age Hill Fort with an between 170 to 180m Welshbury contains overlying bronze age field at the highest point, mainly Small Leaved Lime system and is designated damage to the Hill and Oak, with evidence to as a Scheduled Ancient Fort from wind throw suggest that the area Monument. is an ever increasing may once have been risk as the trees get managed under a coppice older and taller. regime. Coppicing will be reintroduced at an appropriate scale for future management and will be carried out in accordance to the SAM plan drawn up by the County Archaeologist to whom referral will be made during operational planning.

5 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Tenure & Extended from the original Lowland heath habitat Forest operations must Management Edgehills bog reserve, on Edge Hills is set to recognise the value of Agreements Edgehills heath is a expand into areas with this type of habitat and (cont) reserve managed by GWT, appropriate geology refer to the respective valued for being that is consistent with GWT management characteristic of lowland and is showing signs plans when preparing heath and is covered by of favourable ground work in these areas. the 2012-2022 concordat flora. with GWT. (see conservation features Wet areas around the Opportunities exist to map) original reserve area block older drains that should be encouraged will increase the holding to perpetuate a wetter capacity of the site habitat type. slowing the release of surface water during periods of prolonged rainfall. This will include newly proposed sites for heathland restoration.

There are several privately Relatively few and Take into account when owned properties, both scattered across the drawing up plans for within and adjacent to the whole area. forest operations. woodland.

A couple of mines and Small scale workings, Existing activity fits associated surface leases beginning to yield comfortably within exist within the area. (see coal. management objectives. mines & quarries map)

Physical The long north-south ridge Some elevated sites Selection of appropriate Environment of Haywood lies to the may be subject to species and silvicultural west of the plan area at an endemic windthrow, systems at elevated (see soils, elevation of 160m gently with exposure locations with clearfells geology and rising to 270m in the east. potentially a problem taken to wind firm landform The terrain then drops for some species at boundaries where analysis away steeply eastward the top of the highest possible will help maps) into the more intimate ridges. minimise the effects of landscape of Castiard Vale these more exposed sites consisting of three closely and help safeguard linked but discrete areas archaeological interest. of woodland situated on a series of ridges; Chestnut Wood to the south, Welshbury Wood in the middle with Flaxley the most northerly and the

6 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Physical highest elevation in the Environment plan area being marked in (cont.) Chestnuts Wood by a trig- point at an elevation of 190m. The eastern side of Castiard Vale generally falls away steeply to around 30m before entering into the river Severn Catchment.

Soils vary from surface Heavy and wet clay Species choice may be water gleys on the soils that may need limited on the clay soils, western slopes of some drainage in but the eastern slopes of Haywood giving way to places give way to Edgehills and the Castiard podzols along the north- nutrient poor soils Vale are suitable for and south ridge, with along the Haywood are capable of supporting predominantly brown ridge being associated a much wider range of earths on the eastern with a belt of tree species. slopes of Edgehills that Drybrook sandstone stretch across to cover the as part of the Woodlands of Castiard Carboniferous series. Vale. The eastern slopes of Edgehills with much With the poorer soils on richer soils benefit the western slopes of from a more sheltered Haywood the primary aspect. National Vegetation Class (NVC) type is W16 Heathland restoration This priority will continue (Oak/birch with wavy hair is a major priority for to be recognised in the grass and bilberry). The Gloucestershire and plan. The scale and scarcity of hazel helps to was a main feature in extent of potential separate W16 from the the old Biodiversity heathland restoration will W10 class (Oak with Action Plan for be around 50-60 Ha with bracken & bramble) that Gloucestershire. plans for conversion that occurs on the richer soils should be compatible with of the eastern slopes of Much of Haywood the other constraining Edgehills and throughout ridge has been factors. E.g. Impact on / most of Castiard Vale until identified as a major of timber revenue and one reaches the northern site for potential tree health issues. and eastern locale of creation of open Flaxley where W10 gives habitats / lowland In the longer term way to NVC W8 (Ash/field heath. possibilities exist to Maple & Dogs Mercury). create links through the (see NVC map) Calcareous soil is very forest north of the plan localised, usually area with heathland sites There is also localised below the Drybrook further north still, at calcareous soil. sandstone. Wigpool.

7 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Landscape The plan area lies at the Highly visible from a Landscape considerations Setting very eastern edge of the number of locations will feature highly in the Forest of Dean, starting at including the A 48 FDP proposals and should (see the eastern side: Three trunk road, Littledean take into account: landform prominent wooded ridges and Plump Hill. And • The mid to long analysis in close proximity to each further afield from the distance views of map) other separated by a viewpoint at the top of Flaxley and Edgehills network of valleys form an New Fancy. as seen from the intimate landscape known northeast and east. as the Castiard Vale • Views from the west, overlooking and draining into Haywood into the Severn Vale particularly from catchment. Valley Road, Linear Park and Steam Mills. Along the western edge of The Haywood / • Views from the top of Castiard Vale, the slopes Edgehills ridge is New Fancy, which of Edgehills rise steeply highly visible from the although lying further giving way to a ridge east and from as far afield to the southeast running north to south away as the Cotswold is a spot well before falling gently ridge with the western frequented by the westward into the wooded slopes forming part of public. slopes of Haywood. a highly coniferous area of woodland Forest operations will Edgehills forms the bounded to the west endeavour to enhance interface between the by a road and and protect both physical Forest and the valleys that industrial park. and natural features feed into the Severn Vale. considered to be locally Landscape quality of important e.g. the forest edge will be • Groups or individual particularly important trees of significant The plan area is bounded close to communities. value. on all sides by numerous • Features of a heritage Towns, villages and or cultural value hamlets. (see location) • Other physical or natural features that Landscape Character contribute to a “sense Assessment & National The variety of of place” Character Area topography, aspects, Assessment associated geology Any restocking should The underlying geology and soils should take the chance to better has a major influence on favour a wider species match tree species to site the landscape and choice in future type and diversify the landforms in the area plantings. species range being whilst the varied soils planted. associated with them lead to a wide range of habitats with their characteristic

8 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Landscape flora and fauna. Setting (cont.) The main priority habitats Opportunities exist to Careful matching and in the Forest of Dean are create new areas of diversification of tree made up of: upland oak lowland heath, taking species will make for a woods, lowland mixed advantage of the more resilient forest in deciduous woodland, and underlying geology the face of a warming wet woodland, with some and floral composition climate and the constant small areas of lowland to help identify them. threat of new disease, grassland. whilst perpetuating the visual diversity and appeal of the woodlands.

The varied nature of the The “Sense of place” These areas will be woodlands and one associates with managed in line with any management regimes sensitive sites such as specific management adds to the visual diversity Welshbury Wood and plans in place and ensure of the forest and therefore the wider Castiard other guidance or best to their appeal; although Vale need careful practice is accounted for the dense tree cover often consideration within in the planning of forestry obscures visible features future management operations through the of these and even regimes with intimate site planning process. dramatic relief features landscapes such as such as slades, valleys and these that can be very Landscape quality needs ridges are disguised. evocative in creating a to be maintained and be Views to and from the sense of emotional improved in certain surrounding ridges attachment to the areas. Where this is the indicate the true nature of landscape. case careful landscaping the topographic of coupe boundaries will framework. ensure a higher quality of landscape is achieved.

9

Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

SILVICULTURE

Topic Description Implications for Proposals Management Silviculture: Main conifers Douglas Fir and Red Cedar Planting of Douglas Fir Species Choice currently both produce good yields and Red Cedar will be growing: on the brown earths found favoured over Norway (Figs 1,4,6,7 & • Douglas Fir (DF) on the eastern slopes of Spruce. Appendix 1) • Red Cedar (RC) Haywood and throughout the Castiard Vale; having Current crops of Douglas adequate moisture and are Fir and Red Cedar are generally of a more well suited to longer sheltered nature. Both rotations which aid the species are suited well to a restructuring process on warming climate and longer the eastern slopes of rotations. Flaxley where clearfelling and restocking methods will eventually revert these slopes to broadleaf.

• Norway Spruce Most Norway Spruce within Areas of mid rotation NS (NS) the plan area is in mid- within Flaxley will revert rotation with Yield Class back to broadleaf being in the range of 18 to through thinning. In 22. areas where no parent crops exist and crops are stable then group felling as part of the thinning process with subsequent group planting will be used in order to diversify the age structure and tree species within the future crop.

• Larch The plan area used to Larch will not be felled Japanese larch (JL) contain almost 75Ha of per se unless infection is European Larch (EL) larch. Larch has good tonal found and a SPHN is Hybrid larch (HL) variety and being issued by Forest deciduous by nature is a Services, although useful species for softening smaller components of landscapes where larch maybe removed evergreen conifers are through more than one prevalent; whilst also being thinning if appropriate. a valuable component of a In the short term no productive forest. However larch will be planted. around 35Ha was felled in Instead a mixture of

1 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: 2013 due to Phytophthora broadleaf and other Species Choice ramorum leaving 40Ha still conifer species will (cont.) standing equating to 8%. replace larch on infected It is possible that further sites. felling will be necessary if further infection is found in the future.

• Corsican Pine The plan area contains The aim with these areas (CP) 48Ha of Corsican Pine is to increase air flow which almost solely helping keep the crops appears in Haywood. It is alive. Thinning of all CP much suited to drier poorer areas will comply with soils. The large majority of the District DNB policy CP is suffering from thinning to a spacing of: Dothistroma Needle Blight • 3-5m for 1st thin or DNB and has the result • 5-8m at 2nd thin of reducing growth rates by • 8-12m 3rd thin th up to 70% and in worse • 12-15m for 4 thin. case scenarios this can rise This will ensure a higher to over 80% or even 90%, volume of air flow and meaning almost certain slow the rate of mortality for the infected infection. crop during the next Most Corsican Pine is in growing season. mid-rotation; with 22Ha

of CP in Haywood

growing on sites that

have been identified for

the creation of lowland

heath and once felled

will not be replanted.

Instead these areas will

be managed to create

and maintain a mosaic of

lowland heath habitat.

Any future plantings will Main broadleaves be changed to SP or currently other suitable conifer. growing:

• Oak (OK) There is a strong cultural OK should be a primary and ecological association broadleaf species on with Oak in this part of the appropriate sites Dean. It grows poorly on although diversity needs the podzols of the upper to be a key feature of ridge in Haywood / future native woodlands. Edgehills and a vegetative - See below. under storey of a heathy

nature can often be found

2 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: on these types of wooded Species Choice sites within the Haywood (cont.) and Edgehills area.

• Small Leaved Lime is a characteristic Lime will continue to be Lime (SLI) component of these a key component. Some woodlands and is of good mature areas are to be quality, occurring solely managed as coppice in

within the Castiard Vale at the future. Some new present and also has value planting of SLI will take for some rarer Lepidoptera. place within Haywood Eg: Dichomeris ustalella a and Edgehills to diversify Micro-moth found in Flaxley the native component, 2013 listed as a red data whilst other areas will book 1 species. continue as broadleaf Shelterwood.

• Ash (AH) AH almost solely occurs Due to the threat of

within Castiard Vale. Chalara Fraxinea little to Some sites are producing no planting will be done good quality AH. Prolific in the short term. Any natural regeneration of AH planting will be with especially within Flaxley trees grown from seed and parts of Welshbury. sources where a possible genetic resistance has been found. Thinning in areas where AH natural regeneration occurs will continue to be of benefit to both parent

trees and natural regeneration where appropriate; with natural regeneration being recruited into future crops. Enrichment planting of other species will help diversify future crops and minimise risk of infection from the Chalara Fraxinea disease.

• Sycamore (SYC) SYC almost solely occurs Site native broadleaves within Castiard Vale. will be favoured over SYC not native to this area SYC where there is an

3 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: but is widely naturalised option, but due to its Species Choice and is also very susceptible invasive character it is (cont.) to squirrel damage. likely that it will remain present in some areas, although form is likely to be poor due to squirrel damage.

• Sweet Chestnut Chestnut is a naturalised Like Larch, SC is (SC) species and has local unfortunately susceptible cultural and historical to Phytophthora significance. ramorum. Should Phytopththora return in the future, further removal would be required therefore in the short term planting of SC will be minimised. Areas of SC that are coppicing well following

clearance of inflected sites in 2013 will be monitored for signs of reinfection. Some of these sites may benefit from a level of enrichment planting with alternative broadleaf species other than birch affecting a fuller and more diverse stocking to ensure healthy future

crop.

• Beech (BE) BE occurs in the Haywood Timber potential for • Nothophagus and Edgehills area only younger crops is limited (RON and RAN) with Nothophagus solely in due to the potential for Castiard Vale showing squirrel damage. This prolific natural should not preclude BE regeneration. in helping to diversify future crops by Older stands and individual acceptance of natural specimens of BE greatly regeneration or planting add to the “Sense of Place” (in mix with other minor

in certain areas such as St. species) as there is a Antonies Well. healthy market for firewood.

4 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: Conifer Species Choice • Douglas Fir (DF) DF is a commercially Some areas of DF and (cont.) • Red Cedar (RC) valuable timber suited well RC in Flaxley will be to a warming climate, temporarily retained on longer rotations and an extended rotation to appropriate for the richer help resolve landscaping brown earths found within issues. Inside of the Edgehills. Research tools Statutory Forest

suggest RC would be well Boundary DF and RC is

suited for consideration in likely to be planted on increasing future resilience suitable sites. Thinning to a predicted warmer of mature crops is likely climate. to encourage natural regeneration.

• Scots Pine (SP) Use of SP should continue. Where mature stands Little effect of DNB showing exist, retain SP for at present. Frost hardy structural diversity and and wind-firm and will do conservation value. This well on the drier more will help with visual

fertile sites. Good in later aesthetics in areas

years for visual aesthetics, proposed as future structural diversity and heathland, adding to the Future conservation value. creation of a new, more alternative open “Sense of Place”. species for consideration • Oriental Spruce Similar to NS in terms of ORS may be planted on (ORS) site requirements tolerant some of the drier sites of drier site conditions, and where appropriate, with the timber sharing helping with the future similar structural properties resilience of the forest to makes an attractive climatic change.

alternative to NS given the

forecast for future climatic conditions.

• Coastal Redwood Considered currently as RSQ lends itself well to (QRS) minor species, needing being considered as a moderately fertile soil with component for under- a fresh to moist soil planting where the conditions. Shade tolerant, overstory affords the but frost sensitive. shelter required for Research suggests their successful suitability for a warming establishment.

climate within this plan

area.

5 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Future Broadleaves All species listed to the left Although classed as alternative • Hazel (HAZ) are native with some being minor broadleaf species, species for almost non-existent if not enrichment planting of • consideration Small Leaved completely non-existent* such species will be (cont) Lime (SLI) within the plan area. encouraged promoting future diversity in terms Welshbury and Flaxley are • Cherry (WHC) outside of the Statutory of conservation value,

Forest and in the process of visual aesthetics and • Field Maple (FM) * reverting back to native possible cues for future broadleaf. Future native timber interest other • Hornbeam (HBM) woodland should not just than Oak. rely on Oak, Ash and Sweet • Whitebeam Chestnut. The aim should Along with the (WHI) * be to introduce as much incorporation of the variety and diversity as inevitable Birch • Wild Service possible into future crops. regeneration into the (WST) * Hornbeam - a good crop, all these species alternative to Beech and will add the diversity • Wych Elm (WEM) good for Hawfinch; being looked for, making Cherry – good for visual for a future woodland • Birch (BI) diversity and timber; that hopefully has Hazel – good for dormice; resilience to a more Whitebeam, Wild extreme future climate Service & Wych Elm – all and to threat of disease. currently rare in the plan area and will encourage invertebrate and lepidopteron interest. Large diameter Wild Service being highly valued and sort after for their timber. Small Leaved Lime – interesting cultural native with historical significance in The Castiard Vale; Field Maple – native and almost non-existent in FP area; good Autumnal colour although susceptible to squirrel damage.

• Shagbark A climax species often Site conditions within the Hickory (COV) associated with oak plan area lend itself well woodland found on a wide to trialling this species range of site types in east that has few disease U.S. often found on drier related issues and should upland soils because of its be well suited to the

6 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Future superior drought tolerance, changing climate. Seed alternative but preferring deep, moist, would be sourced from species for rich, well-drained soils with within the UK. consideration an annual rainfall of 510- (cont) 1020mm, shade tolerant The unusual physical when young, develops a characteristics will also

strong taproot. Being lend a degree of visual hardy & seldom browsed by diversity to the forest. deer. As a member of the Walnut family the sweet The properties of Hickory nuts provide food for suggest good saleability wildlife. into more traditional Its rough bark and jagged trades such as building branch structure gives a and construction, along striking winter appearance. with the potential for the development of new Traditionally a useful niche markets, including source of fuel wood and sports equipment and makes good charcoal. those within the food Timber properties make it industry where “green" suitable for construction wood or seasoned but grade timber, furniture, freshly-wetted wood flooring, & tool handles; chips are sought after for whilst the tough resilient the smoking of meats, nature of the wood make it especially pork, with suitable for items subject Hickory charcoal being to impact & stress e.g. popular with end-users ladder rungs, dowels, for the smoky flavour it athletic goods, and gym imparts to food. equipment.

7

Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: Native The pace of conversion Where the objective of returning Thinning & woodland and methods used to to native woodland has been Felling restoration remove conifer and identified, sites with minimal Stands that return identified areas to broadleaf content and having a (Figures currently consist native woodland will naturalness class of 4 are more 3, 4,5,6 of conifers in vary and is dependant likely to be felled and restocked, and see the mixture with site on: or as a second option will have Silvicultural native • The site naturalness a target removal date set for systems broadleaves class to which each the final removal of remaining map, sub-cpt belongs. conifer. indicative • Levels of mature future broadleaf content. Other sub-cpts likely to be in a species yrs • Levels and vagaries naturalness class of 2 or 3, will 10 & 40 of existing natural contain: maps and regeneration. • An acceptable level of transition to • How the woodland mature broadleaf. native responds to thinning. • An existing under storey of woodland • Site characteristics acceptable broadleaf. over time such as topography, • Be showing signs of natural map) soil, aspect, levels of regeneration. exposure etc… • A mixture of any of the • Landscaping above. anomalies that need  Successful conversion of addressing. these areas is subject to the • quality and quantity of – see options 1 and 2 broadleaf content. detailed on the next These areas will be managed page. through thinning that will: • Promote canopy development of existing broadleaf and that of broadleaf natural regeneration within conifer stands. • Open up areas of young broadleaf natural regeneration for development • Recruit regeneration of an acceptable robust size into the future woodland structure.

The factors outlined will determine how quickly conversion can be achieved. Therefore conversion in some areas will be complete with one

10 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: or two thinnings or if 3 or more Thinning & interventions are needed, Felling enrichment planting will reduce (cont.) conversion time and add diversity. Options for o Option 1: native woodland Clearfelling followed by Felling coupes are felled in a restoration restocking may be single operation at some point These are based preferred; especially within the five year period as on information where landscaping is shown on the felling plan. outlined on the currently an issue or previous page where broadleaf content A balance of premature and is currently minimal. delayed felling will be required to complement management intentions for the surrounding woodland, observe Forest Service regulation and remain compliant with UKWAS. o Option 2: This option maintains Creation of these plantable open woodland cover and areas is carried out at the same allows for groups of time as routine thinning conifer to be felled interventions with the remaining creating open plantable crop between these groups spaces of around 0.5Ha thinned as normal. Gaps are to 0.75Ha in size. then subsequently planted Multiple groups can be giving opportunity for planting a felled during any wide range of native broadleaf intervention but not species that will either: necessarily in the same • Increase and complement sub-cpt. giving the stocking levels of existing advantage of allowing broadleaves within the felled development of a varied groups or structure. • Create completely new broadleaf components within the conifer matrix. Option 2 can ensure a more diverse species composition is achieved over several thinning interventions.

11

Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: Outside of the over the whole plan area to the Felling Plan, detailed on Thinning & Statutory Forest account for approx 36%. the felling and restocking plan Felling within Flaxley and Existing conifer on some map that should be read in (cont.) Welshbury, sites will play a part to: conjunction with the silvicultural conifer crops • Aid development of a systems map. account for varied age structure 49-50% although and species Overall it is envisaged that inside the composition. conifer content within the plan statutory • Assist transition of area will fall by around 18% by boundary in the landscape to one the end of the 40 year plan Haywood and that is more period. Chestnuts Wood sympathetic & in the conifer scale with the coverage drops to surrounding 29%. landform. • Maintain the intimacy and scale at which the landscape is perceived. • Add visual diversity to areas restored to lowland heath.

Heathland and These areas may be Potential areas for restoration or open habitats restored to heathland creation will be felled in a A number of areas following clearfelling, staggered sequence in order to: of conifer within although this is • Complement management Haywood have somewhat reliant on intentions for surrounding been identified as resources remaining woodland. potential lowland available into the future • Observe Forest Service heath or open for restoration work to regulation and remain habitat. Often continue and be compliant with UKWAS. coinciding with successful. This • Offer continuity of habitat to areas of CP presents further nesting ground birds. heavily infected opportunity for • Ease pressure on future with DNB; These partnership working with resource management. areas also Gloucestershire Wildlife possess a Trust. vegetation layer typical of lowland It is not considered that There may be opportunity to heath, often the presence of the remove Christmas trees from particularly rich in young conifers will have these sites in the intervening bilberry, that a long-term detrimental period. arises out of effect on restoration association with potential over the next the Drybrook 20 years or so. sandstone and podzolic soils that

13 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: extend to the Thinning & west over the Felling gleyed soils. (cont.) Broadleaves Broadleaf Woodland is These sites will generally move Currently account generally managed at a much slower pace towards for an equal 46% using shelterwood the next rotation than their inside and outside systems that maybe conifer counterparts and are of the Statutory based on group usually monitored and assessed Forest. selection or single tree for signs of natural regeneration selection methods. at the time of thinning. However, use of natural regeneration will be assessed on not just quantity and quality but also diversity of species. It is therefore likely that a mixture of natural regeneration and enrichment / supplementary planting would normally be used to achieve a future crop that is commercially viable and ecologically robust enough to cope with the wide range of demands the future may bring.

Within the initial 10 year Some small scale felling of period of this FP broadleaves may be required in approval a number of order to ameliorate landscape sites in Flaxley will anomalies or tidy up broadleaf undergo PAWS components left following a restoration, totalling conifer clearfell operation.* some 14.5 Ha and is identified on the 10 year * Whether achieved through a felling schedule. selective thin or complete removal is dependant on quality of the remnants along with future management for that and the surrounding area.

The presence of small- The use of locally collected seed leaved lime will feature will be explored as an option. to varying degrees.

Napoleonic These areas are of high Stands will be Managed under a Oaks ecological and cultural continuous cover system based These are located importance. on group shelterwood system. throughout Associated Sweet Thinning should concentrate on Chestnuts Wood, Chestnut is a distinctive promoting and developing small

14 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: Green Bottom and feature of the woodland areas of natural regeneration. Thinning & the peripheries of and has historical This will require gradual Felling Haywood significance (lending thinning of some older trees, (cont.) there name to the local based on securing existing Vale of Castiard). regeneration of a suitable age, height and robustness. How Natural regeneration has quickly this occurs depends on been limited due to how crops respond to thinning, grazing by sheep within but it is desirable to retain an the Statutory Forest overstorey of older trees to go boundary, although on and become veterans and or since foot and mouth in hulks for the future. 2001 pressure is now more from deer and Identification of existing veteran boar. and hulk trees is an ongoing process and these will be Some conifer elements retained for the long term as a exist throughout these matter of course; subject to areas. public safety in which case the Opportunities will exist favoured method of to accrue deadwood management will be tree following harvesting or surgery. Felling will be a last tree surgery operations. resort.

Small-leaved Stands of SLI have been Cant boundaries will try to lime and still are a focus of account for stool integrity, The majority of much study; the age of although leaving risers may help lime is situated on individual stools, their in minimising desiccation of and around the genetic diversity and freshly cut stools, maintain a Scheduled Ancient integrity of the lime level of functioning Monument in across the area are all photosynthetic ability, whilst the Welshbury critical aspects of their cutting of longer than normal underlying value. Clonal stubs also aids successful varieties of lime are regeneration. The cant must being identified. cover the archaeological zone for that location following the boundaries on the felling plan as

best as they can. (see SAM

appendix)

Potential damage to the The SAM is the subject of an earthwork of the SAM is agreed management plan a critical factor, as is the revised in 2014 by the County ability of the general Archaeology Department that public to view the states the small-leaved lime on earthwork. Management the most vulnerable parts of the

options for this area fort will be converted to *

15 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: have been discussed coppice rotation to help mitigate Thinning & with the County the risk and threat of damage Felling Archaeologist and their posed to the SAM area by wind- (cont.) recommendations are throw as the lime gets older and given in the Welshbury the risk increases.

Hill Fort Management *As identified by the county Plan. (See Appendix 2 archaeologist. An extract from the SAM management proposals)

Coppice areas Some of this area has Thinning will continue to revert An area of ASNW recently been managed the woodlands to a native state. currently by a local interest Management will be a mixture undergoing group. Potential exists of traditional methods i.e. restoration in for further coppicing in standing sales into the firewood Hope Wood. other areas to introduce / energy fuel markets or (see coppice map) a more diverse through the assistance of local structure. volunteer groups or working parties.

With recent plantings, Just like all harvesting activities, ride side management coppice work will be subject to and routine thinning operational site planning operations, the habitat through the Ops 1 procedure value for dormouse taking into account EPS habitat is increasing. regulations that will safeguard and enhance habitat

Stored coppice This area is varied in Coppice with standards will be The eastern structure with clear introduced to this area with section and remnants of a coppice coppice being managed on a northern management system. 25-30 year rotation. Initial boundary of The area has been thinnings will be undertaken Mugglewort Wood identified as being semi- through routine management (see coppice map) natural in character. - and include removal of the See AWS and woodland remaining larch along the naturalness maps. northern boundary of Mugglewort. Follow up coppicing operations especially in those areas where extraction distances are long and awkward will have a high conservation agenda, aiming to promote and encourage a variety of deadwood habitat that can be carried out by volunteers such as the Dean Green Team.

16 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Silviculture: Deadwood Opportunities will exist When harvesting in broadleaf Thinning & management during the plan period to crops, especially older crops, a Felling Improving quality accrue deadwood during percentage of crowns should be (cont.) and quantity of harvesting work or as a left in tact and not be broken deadwood within result of tree surgery down. Over time this will the plan area operations. provide a wide range of habitat types for a numerous variety of insects, fungi and lichen. Deadwood habitat will also be improved with follow up operations after certain areas have been coppiced. (see above & coppicing map) Silviculture: Woodland Composition A third of the Castiard Plan proposals move woodland Naturalness Vale contains woodland naturalness significantly (Fig 5) that has 20% towards sites containing 50- broadleaves or less 80% and those containing 80% whilst in Haywood and site native species. (Naturalness Edgehills this figure is classes 1 & 2) through both just over 50%. clearfelling and thinning.

There is approximately In areas outside the Statutory 13% more woodland Forest classified as ‘conifer on containing >80% extended rotation’, an broadleaves in Castiard understory composing of mixed Vale than Haywood and broadleaf will develop over time Edgehills. through thinning by: opening up existing broadleaf components, Taken as a whole the encouraging crown development plan area overall has and natural regeneration to around 34% of establish. The transition to a woodland containing native state will be monitored >80% broadleaves, and in some cases management whilst around 50% of of these areas may include woodland has a group felling and planting if broadleaf content of future diversity needs to be <20%. ensured.

17

Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Conservation Creation & The potential for The plan lays out an ambitious restoration of heathland restoration in and challenging programme of lowland Haywood is considerable heathland restoration and heathland but fraught with creation that will provide a high habitats. difficulty. degree of ecological benefit. Lowland heath is a rare resource in With previous Haywood is part of the Gloucestershire. experience from the Statutory Forest of Dean and The majority of forest of Dean environs, currently primary legislation the small amount heathland will constantly only permits the enclosure of of historic lowland try to revert to land for the growing of trees. heath in the woodland. This has This means that sheep grazing county lies within implications for may take place, but it is likely the Forest of resources in maintaining to be light, sporadic and Dean, with most sites in an ecologically uncontrolled. of these areas favourable condition. having been planted with Despite these foreseen With some 50-60Ha of conifers during difficulties the Forestry heathland planned for the middle of the Commission is restoration over the next 40 20th Century. committed to delivering years grazing will not, by itself potential restoration of provide the type of lowland heath within management necessary for the existing plans, with maintenance of a healthy existing areas of heathland vegetation structure heathland and other and in reality habitat created open habitats managed will be a variety of open in partnership with the habitats ranging from heathland Gloucestershire Wildlife to grassland, mires and bog. Trust. Therefore Partnership funding will play an important role in making this project a successful reality.

Robert Quote “Only those Quote “A number of Quote “FC has an overall Turner areas of the benefits would result responsibility to manage the report Statutory Forest from a careful review of Forest in a manner best suited April 2011 which are the present fencing to modern forestry practice and presently required arrangements and the in the interests of good (Queens for the growth understanding of what conservation.” Remembrancer and preservation should in these days be 2002-2007) regarded as forest waste of timber should Asked to remain “enclosed” and the restoration of conduct a some areas of land for review of conservation purposes.” Forest Waste and enclosures

19 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Conservation Quote “The Quote “Subject to Quote “This would ensure the (cont.) Inclosure consultation as best and most practical means Commissioners a matter of courtesy for restoring the health of these should review the with the Inclosure areas and re-establish the extent to which Commissioners and the habitat for plants and animals this is necessary. Commoners Association, which are either endangered or There is no it would be obliterated from them by reason urgency in this proper to enclose on a of the state of the ground task.” temporary basis small cover.” areas of waste for grazing by sheep, cattle and ponies.”

Nightjar These birds have The proposals laid out in A number of Nightjar have been been in decline the plan should maintain recorded using restock sites on nationally and suitable breeding habitat Edgehills for nesting over the locally over many for nightjars in last 5-10 years. Recent years. A Gloucestershire. heathland restoration projects reduction in the (e.g. Tidenham and Edgehills) amount of have provided habitats for clearfelling and nesting birds. Proposals for the amount of lowland next thirty years should heath has positively contribute to the contributed to this biodiversity in Gloucestershire. decline locally.

Dichomeris ustalella This is a rare UK The plan will look to The larva of this moth feeds on red data book incorporate Small Leaved Lime. The plan species of moth management that is outlines the re-introduction of found in the last suitable to safeguard coppicing in parts of Flaxley that 18months on the habitat for this moth would see coppice habitat western side of and hopefully create extended from 5Ha to 15.5Ha Flaxley. There is further suitable habitat with a further 11.5Ha in some evidence to for successful continuity Welshbury. So by 2054 there suggest that it is and stability. would be a total of 19Ha of also in Welshbury. Small Leaved Lime coppice and Its main habitat is 8Ha mixed coppice. There is Small Leaved, also currently a further 11Ha of having been found SC being managed as coppice in on stools from 3- Haywood. 5yrs old to 40-50 yrs old.

20 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Conservation Dormice Routine thinning Suitable dormouse habitat will (cont.) Known to exist operations aimed at be maintained and expanded as around Hope benefiting broadleaf Flaxley moves to more of a Wood components have meant broadleaf composition through that the woodland sympathetic thinning and the habitat is changing from planting of minor tree species. being marginal to This habitat will also be favourable and in other supported by the planned parts from unfavourable increase in areas to be managed to marginal. This is as coppice. especially the case around the Flaxley area All Dormouse areas are of the Castiard Vale. monitored through the dormouse monitoring scheme. Conservation of grassland areas. Grazing pressure has It is acknowledged that Bracken (Forest Waste) reduced considerably does have conservation value, There are since foot and mouth in however, there remains a need considerable 2001. These areas are to ensure its targeted control areas of forest isolated from the main and that a balance of open waste around grazing area within the habitats is maintained achieving Collafield, Plump Statutory Forest. Sites provision of a multitude of Hill and Merring comprise of a mixture of ecological benefits. Meend Popes Hill important unimproved and Shapridge grassland, bracken and This balance is managed that sit on the scrub. Encroachment by through an annual swiping and edge of the bracken can be flailing programme. Timing of Statutory Forest problematic. these operations is critical and site planning crucial in ensuring that site benefits are maximised and should be decided on by a site by site basis in consultation with the District Ecologist to ensure both the type of management and timing of operations is correct. Conservation of geological Notified as a geological The principal objective is to exposures SSSI as it provides good maintain the quarry faces clear within Edgehills accessible exposures of of vegetation permitting Quarry SSSI. Drybrook Sandstone unobstructed viewing of that lies between the exposures. There is an existing Chadian Whitehead Management Plan for the SSSI. limestone having The aim of both the overlying unconformable management plan and the FP coal measures. These will be to maintain the SSSI in sandstones contain good favourable condition. sedimentary structures

21 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Conservation and trace fossil surfaces (cont.) suggesting a probable shallow marine environment.

Conservation of Westbury Brook SSSI is The most important aspect ecological an old ironstone mine regarding the woodland within features that serves as a bat the SSSI is ensuring that there associated with hibernacula. It is is a slow pace of change around the Westbury particularly important the entrance of the mine and Brook SSSI. for horseshoe bats. that the corridors of vegetation During 2003 important are maintained intact. These structural work was corridors assist the bats in carried out to prevent navigating to feeding and the entrance of the mine breeding grounds. No large- collapsing and scale changes are planned over compromising access the next 20 years. There is an and egress by bats. existing Management Plan for the SSSI. The aim of both the Management Plan and the FDP will be to maintain the SSSI in favourable condition.

Conservation of Welshbury Iron Age The County Archaeology heritage hill fort. The fort is a department has just rewritten features. Scheduled Ancient the management plan for the Numerous Monument and SAM area that outlines a features of dominates the landform reversion to a coppicing regime. archaeological within Welshbury. It is It continues that this would be importance exist currently covered with a more favourable than allowing within the plan high forest of stored the continuation of target area and are Small leaved Lime diameter thinning that identified on the coppice that, according potentially is more damaging to appropriate maps. to stock data dates back the SAM since the threat from The most to 1930. However wind blow damage and levels of important are current research tends exposure is only increasing as given here. to favour the theory that the trees continue to grow. the lime is much older Coupled with the fact that that this, having not harvesting operations in this been planted but has type of terrain are a lot more established as broadleaf challenging than would normally woodland over a much be the case, especially in longer time period. thinning conditions is also valid reason for the decision to utilise small scale coppicing that meets archaeological needs whilst remaining sympathetic to the landscape. The reintroduction

22 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Conservation of coppicing will not only (cont.) safeguard the earthworks within the SAM area but also bring a higher degree of biological value.

St Anthony’s This area of woodland The overriding principal to bear Well. This is one commands a most in mind in this area is that any of the largest and impressive “Sense of future management should most picturesque place” that is continue to be low key with an holy wells in emotionally evocative to extremely slow rate of change Gloucestershire. a wide range of people and the continuity of tranquillity It was used by for a wide range of that the site enjoys is best the Monks of reasons. maintained by ensuring an Flaxley Abbey. In adequate level of tree cover is the 18th and 19th There has previously maintained over the site in Century a bathing been a Management perpetuity. pool was Plan for St Anthony’s constructed of Well and immediate Any operation carried out in this squared course environs. area needs sympathetic stone and is now planning and implementation a Grade II listed The basic intention of with minimal adverse impact. building and well the old plan was to visited by local maintain a low level of Veteran Trees within the area of people. change, maintain St Antony’s Well are current and in some predominantly Beech will be areas increase levels of managed sympathetically and in open space, encourage accordance to the “trees of regeneration of native special interest” guidelines. species other than Beech in certain areas that in turn would encourage establishment of ground flora and to maintain the stone structure surrounding the well free of scrub.

Scowles. These Quite often their locality Archaeological advice is that follow iron ore and distribution can be these features should be outcrops that are quite widespread and maintained in woodland with associated with can cause issue with the surrounding trees. the limestone and practicalities of are well harvesting work. Where felling takes place distributed along around these features any the length existing broadleaves will be Haywood, forming retained.

23 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

an almost continuous band running north to south on the upper eastern slopes below the Edgehills ridge.

Silviculture: The implementation of this Opportunities exist Thinning will continue to Woodland plan should see a for considerable promote and develop Structure favourable shift towards areas of PAWS broadleaf components and (Fig. 4,6 &7) broadleaf and open space restoration may include group felling habitats. The figures predominantly in to facilitate group planting below are only indicative Castiard Vale but allowing diversification of but give an idea of the also the eastern future species composition. future structure and slopes of Edgehills composition of woodland and some areas of Incorporation of group by year 40: Haywood that have felling in identified areas experienced PR. will complement the use of Evergreen This will see natural regeneration Conifer 18% broadleaf coverage alongside clearfelling that moderately expand will remain a vital tool for Broadleaf 60% throughout the plan the control of plant health area. issues and help to resolve Heathland & landscaping conflicts within Open space 21% Although there is the surrounding landscape. now around 15Ha of Felled 1% open space Use of tree shelters will aid managed for establishment on a small heathland in scale where group planting Edgehills, there is is carried out, although on still an abundance of larger scales where wooded sites clearfelling is employed, showing evidence of localised fencing may be relict ground more appropriate where vegetation rabbit or deer pressure continuing the may present risks to support for the idea successful establishment. of large scale heathland Staggering the felling restoration spoken dates for areas proposed of in the previous for open habitat will create plan. a mosaic effect at differing transitional stages and will spread future management input helping maintain the

24 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

**= By year 40 mosaic effect. the total heathland habitat within plan The felling work will result area will be approx in 25Ha of Heathland being 85Ha. And created by 2035 rising to approx 60Ha by year 40 in including other 2054**; with possibilities open space, total to extend partnership open habitat would working with GWT under rise to around their concordat. 170Ha.

25

Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Objective Description Proposals & Monitoring  Management of the Management of the district’s Compliance to these woodland will be to the woodlands is undertaken to standards is monitored standards required to the standards required under through various national maintain FSC and PEFC UKWAS as endorsed by the and district policies, accreditation. Forest Stewardship Council guidance, field surveys, and to maintain PEFC use of GIS and other IT accreditation. software, internal support audits and external audits carried out by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) which is an independent auditing company.

Monitoring can also be achieved through: Site Planning, contract supervision and the Forest Plan review process.

 Continued production of Management of the Sustainable production sustainable marketable district’s woodlands is will be monitored as part woodland products that undertaken to the standards of the forest district’s also allows the delivery of required under UKWAS as marketing plan, five year a range of other public endorsed and certified by the production forecast and benefits and also provides Forest Stewardship Council at the Forest Plan (FP) future opportunities for and to maintain PEFC five-year review. This substituting use of fossil accreditation. process is audited as part fuels and other energy of the FSC forest intensive materials and As part of the certification process. other materials with the Forest District’s use of wood products. business plan and the Annual pre-thinning organisation’s customers’ survey. charter, the forest district is committed to financial and Production forecast sustainable timber marketing comparison with actual targets. Growing quality output to assess accuracy timber in so far as this is of forecast. consistent with other objectives. Annual Customer Liaison meetings. Giving local companies the The Forestry Commission opportunity to purchase is already committed to timber through open making available supplies competitive sales. of timber for the wood-

28 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

fuel market and this will be monitored as part of the district’s marketing plan.

Monitoring will also be achieved through: Site Planning, contract supervision and the Forest Plan review process.

 To undertake management Diversify the woodlands so The sustainable that protects and enhances as to develop a better variety programme of thinning woodland and open of age structures, habitat and proposed felling habitats facilitating their types and open spaces. together with a varied resilience and adaptation restock program will to projected climate continue to diversify change and threat of stand and age structure, disease. enhance the landscape and benefit a wide range of species and can be monitored during plan reviews.

Operational site planning of harvesting and restocking operations should account for landscape enhancements where appropriate minimising the risk of adverse impact resulting from forest operations whilst at the same time highlight opportunities where conservation benefits can be delivered.

Appropriate reinstatement works will be carried out once operations have been concluded.

Lowland heath is a rare The potential for resource in Gloucestershire. heathland restoration in Forest Enterprise is Haywood is considerable

29 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

committed to delivering open but fraught with difficulty. habitats already identified in However, this plan lays existing plans. out an ambitious, challenging programme of heathland restoration and creation that will provide a high degree of ecological benefit.

The implication is that there Partnership work with will be an onerous cost in GWT will continue maintaining sites in an through their concordat ecologically favourable with the Forestry condition. Partnership Commission and aid in assistance will therefore be monitoring sites critical in helping bear the throughout the cost of management for transitional period and these areas. beyond with ecological value being a defining factor in the evaluation of success. Further monitoring will be achieved through: Forest Plan reviews, surveys and contract supervision.

 To conserve the ecological Manage both SSSIs in The aim of both the SSSI features and geological accordance with the SSSI management plans and exposures associated with management plans. the Forest Plan will be to Westbury Brook SSSI and maintain the SSSIs in a Edgehills Quarry SSSI favourable condition. respectively. Work relating to the SSSIs can be: • Free standing and carried out by volunteers • Can be integrated along side routine forest operations or • Carried out as separate specialist contracts.

Monitoring of both sites will be achieved through the review process in place for both SSSI plans and Forest Plans.

30 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Westbury Brook SSSI Thinning should move the A slow pace of change with woodland towards a more no large-scale changes open structure in coupes planned over the next 20 proposed as open years heathland within the SSSI area. Areas of mature SP or broadleaf will be retained.

Edgehills Quarry Management is mainly The Quarry sits low in the concerned with keeping landscape and is reasonably exposures clear of isolated from the woodland. vegetation, reducing illegal access by climbers and 4x4 users, partly by ensuring a newly planted hawthorn hedge is successfully established and can be laid in the future.

 To restore ancient Protect veteran trees and The District has a robust woodland in line with the promote the retention of survey and inspection ‘Keepers in Time’ policy both standing and fallen system in place for the (2005) and to protect dead wood. monitoring of such older areas of native trees, where tree surgery broadleaved woodland. Note that all work in and is used in preference to around areas where veteran felling that is deemed as trees are present should a last resort. adhere to the 2013 guidelines for Trees of The plan area also Special Interest that are laid contains suitable parts out in FC operational where an increased guidance OPS 31 “Ancient number and variety of and Veteran Trees” deadwood habitats can be promoted. These can be monitored through the site planning process for operations, conservation, and recreation along with contract site supervision.

Further monitoring will be achieved through: Site Planning and the Forest Plan review process.

31 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

 To enhance and conserve Each Forest and Woodland The Forest Plan has tried the very visible natural within this plan have certain to identify these key beauty, “sense of place” parts that hold their own areas that add that and character of the unique value, and the certain uniqueness. The landscape. uniqueness experienced can process has tried to due to a combination and safeguard and develop ratio of any of the following: existing character that number and type of tree will perpetuate and species present, tree spacing further instil the and their size, amount of uniqueness of each of open space, natural or these areas. physical features e.g. streams or terrain amount of Certain areas also have light or shade and the types their own management of ground flora present. plans that should be - Also see the Glossary for a referred to and cross precise definition. referenced with the Forest Plan to ensure their correct management.

Monitoring will be achieved through: Site Planning, contract preparation and supervision, site visits and the Forest Plan review process.

The masts on top of Edgehills Due their height above area an unsightly feature in the canopy these masts the external landscape. will be impossible to hide entirely, although ground based installations will be maintained within a continuous cover of woodland.

Monitoring will be achieved through Site Planning, contract supervision and the review process in place for Forest Plans.

32 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

 To conserve both cultural There are numerous notable Manage sensitive areas in and heritage features features within the plan line with Forest plan within the plan area. notably: proposals referenced to Welshbury Hill Fort, Saint any site specific plans Ensure any guidance from Antonies Well and Westbury such as SSSI or SAM relevant plans is followed. Brook iron mine. Numerous plans. earthworks associated with past management of the Maintain a record of any wood also exist within the unscheduled features, to plan area. improve the quality of existing data sets.

Monitoring will be achieved through: Site Planning, contract supervision and the Forest Plan review process.

 To maintain the area for There are a few small There are no plans to the benefit of informal informal car parks including extend facilities beyond recreation. those at Edgehills Quarry, those currently available. Welshbury, Flaxley, Chestnuts Wood, the Old Vicarage at Forest Church and Haywood School. The whole area is popular with local people from Cinderford and surrounding villages. Haywood is well used by pupils from Haywood Comprehensive and Stem Mills Primary school that both use the woods formally and informally.

33 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

Option Testing

Objective Option 1 (Current FDP) Option 2 (Proposed FP)

 Management of the woodland will be to the standards required to maintain FSC and PEFC accreditation. Felling coupes are primarily aimed at Sensitivities to landscape are improved by restructuring age class distribution at a redesigning the eastern slopes of Flaxley to landscape scale with some thought to better accommodate landform, whilst landform and with limited number of maintaining a landscape scale approach. restocking species. Restocking Coupe design is retained on the western slopes of Haywood despite statutory but premature felling due to PR infected larch; enabling improvements in landscape quality to be realised as per the original plan objectives.

 Continued production of sustainable marketable woodland products that also allows the delivery of a range of other public benefits and also provides future opportunities for substituting use of fossil fuels and other energy intensive materials and other materials with the use of wood products. The primary silvicultural method used in Where desirable issue of restructuring are achieving the establishment of future crops still recognised with the retention of is that of clearfelling, whilst suggested clearfelling systems, but the choice of species choice does not take into account restock species has been widened to the impact of new diseases and climate address the threats from new diseases and change. climate change. In some cases the ATC approach is used to help meet establishment needs of the more sensitive species.

 To undertake management that protects and enhances woodland and open habitats facilitating their resilience and adaptation to projected climate change and threat of disease. Whilst the original plan identified sites that The original restock coupe design has been were suitable for lowland heath, it could not kept and the restock species expanded to account for the statutory felling that was diversify the future woodland composition going to be required in order to manage that will hopefully make the woodland more disease and the implications it brings for resilient in the face of future disease issues. timber sales and future timings for the Timings of fellings for those areas identified clearfelling of surrounding coupes. for heathland restoration have been revised to realign and rebalance projections in the

34 Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Design Plan 2014 – 2024

timber production forecast and help spread the costs associated with restoration work.  To conserve the ecological features and geological exposures associated with Westbury Brook SSSI and Edgehills Quarry SSSI respectively. Management proposals were in line with Here, the proposals fully meet management intentions laid out within site requirements of specific management plans specific management plans. and offer prescriptions that increase potential enhancements to ecological values, although actual potential realised will depend on how the forest Plan is implemented.

 To restore ancient woodland in line with the ‘Keepers in Time’ (KOT) policy and to protect areas of native broadleaved woodland. The original plan relied heavily on natural The proposals in option 2 recognise that regeneration of existing site native species, some species are under threat from disease especially that of Ash. This narrows the and looks to spread risk by planting a wider diversity of tree species on such sites for range of native broadleaves that will the future. In doing so it also reduces the improve overall diversity and lead to natural resilience of a woodland to ward off enhancement in the future conservation or at least minimise potential impacts of value, structure and amenity value of the disease. woodland.

 To enhance and conserve the very visible natural beauty, “Sense of Place” and character of the internal and external landscape. The existing plan maintained the status quo The Forest Plan has also identified these recognising the value of each site according key areas that add that certain uniqueness. to its uniqueness. The process has tried to safeguard and develop existing character that will perpetuate and further instil the uniqueness of each of these areas.

 To conserve both cultural and heritage features within the plan area notably Welshbury Hill Fort, Saint Antonies Well and Westbury Brook iron mine. Numerous earthworks associated with past management of the wood also exist within the plan area. Ensure any guidance from relevant plans are followed. Management proposals were in line with In light of changes to management management intentions laid out within site prescriptions for some areas that have specific management plans. specific plans of their own, proposals for option 2 have been amended and refined to offer prescriptions that meet these changes more readily and offer potential enhancements to ecological values.

35

Haywood and Castiard Vale Forest Plan 2014 – 2024 APPENDIX 1: Pests and Diseases

APPENDIX 2: Pests and Diseases o Name: Dothistroma Needle Blight (DBN) First appearance in the Forest of Dean: mid 1990s Attacks: Pine species Often referred to as Red Band Needle Blight (RBN) and can reduce growth rates by between 70 and 90%. Effects of RBN are managed through thinning the wood more heavily than you would normally to introduce higher levels of air flow through the remaining crop. o Name: Phytopththora ramorum (PR) First appearance in the Forest of Dean: 2012 Attacks: Oaks and Larches Found originally in Cornwall in 2009, attacking Oak, and in 2012 found to of infected Larch. It is a notifiable disease dealt with by felling the infected area under a statutory plant health notice (SPHN) issued by DEFRA. At present there is no PR on Oak in the Forest of Dean, however, around 12% of all larch within the Dean was felled in 2012 to eradicate the disease with regular aerial flyovers to keep track of hot spots. Luckily flyovers in 2013 have shown no reinfection. This is not to say there will not be a need for further fellings of infected larch required in the future.

o Name: Oak ‘dieback’ or ‘decline’ First appearance in the Forest of Dean: unknown Affects: Oak Oak ‘dieback’ or ‘decline’ is the name used to describe poor health in oak trees and can be split into Chronic decline and Acute decline. Chronic decline is protracted taking effect on the Oak over a number of decades whilst Acute decline is much swifter acting over much shorter periods usually five years or so. Symptoms can be caused by a range of living agents e.g. insect and fungal attack, or non-living factors, e.g. poor soil and drought. Factors causing decline can vary between sites, as can the effects of the factors through time. Oak decline is not new; oak trees in Britain have been affected for the most part of the past century. Both native species of oak are affected, but Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) more so than Sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Successive exposure any of these agents on a yearly/seasonal basis further reduces the health of the tree and predisposes it to other living (Biotic) agents that can often spell the final death knell for the tree. o Name: Chalara fraxinea First appearance in the Forest of Dean: currently N/A Attacks: Ash Pretty rampant in Europe, showing up in 2012 mainly in East Anglia and along the East coast of England. To date no infection has been found within the Forest of Dean and let us hope it stays that way!

1

2

3

4

6

APPENDIX 4: Glossary of terms

Term Abbreviation Description Ancient Semi- ASNW An ancient woodland site, where trees and other plant Natural species appear to of established naturally rather than Woodland having been planted. Predominantly these sites will contain 80% or over of site native species or species native to the surrounding area.

Ancient AWS A site that has technically been wooded since 1600AD Woodland and is unlikely to have been converted to farmland in Site the last few centuries.

Clearfell or C/F or CF To cut and remove all trees from a certain area of clearfall woodland.

Continuous CCF A method of management that does not allow the cover clearfelling of the woodland or forest. It can be used in both coniferous, broadleaved or mixed woods. Methods are numerous and varied, but generally one ends up with a woodland or forest that has 2 or more storeys. Using this technique helps develop structure and can improve the ecological diversity of the wood.

Coppicing A method of management where the existing crop is cut and the next rotation is established by allowing the stumps of the old crop – or “stools” as they are known – to re-grow. The methods and techniques used to cut the original crop can influence how successful the re-growth and regeneration will be. As coppice stools get older and the more times they are coppiced it is likely that some will regenerate less plentifully and one must consider the need to use enrichment planting as a way of ensuring the successful establishment of the next crop. Protection from browsing mammals can be an important factor too.

Crop A stand of trees. Often associated with stands completely or partially managed for its timber. Just as farmers manage crops so does forestry the only difference is a farmers’ rotation is shorter and often realised in 1 year. Trees are a much longer term crop with rotations varying from 6 years to 400 years. (also see definition for rotation) Enrichment Planting different species within areas of regen that planting helps diversify the range of species in a wood and in doing so can make it more resilient to future climate change and future threats from disease.

7

Enrichment may be desirable in areas where success of regeneration is uneven, patchy or where a regen crop is limited by the number of species present.

Group felling This is where small areas of woodland are felled / group hence the name “group felling” and then either planting allowed to develop through the use of nat-regen or in this case planted hence “group planting”. These techniques can help to develop structure* within a wood over a given length of time and is often used in conjunction with continuous cover. *Either in terms of age or number of tree species present, since shelter and shade are provided by the remaining upper storey one can consider a larger number of tree species when deciding what to plant.

Hectare Ha Unit of area equating to 2.47 acres.

Mixed Wood Woodland consisting of both conifer and broadleaf species.

National NVC A UK wide classification system used to attribute Vegetation standardised descriptions to plant communities. Classification Native (and The trees making up the woodland are part of honorary England’s natural, or naturalised flora. Determined native) by whether the trees colonised Britain without assistance from humans since the last ice age (or in the case of ‘honorary natives’ were brought here by people but have naturalised in historic times); and whether they would naturally be found in this part of England.

Natural Regen or Trees growing on a site as a result of natural seed Regeneration nat-regen fall, and can be used as a management process and can allow cleared areas of woodland to germinate, grow and develop naturally. This process can happen anywhere and woods can be managed to encourage nat-regen although there is no guarantee of success. In these instances, or if nat-regen is unlikely for a variety of reasons, one can use enrichment planting or group planting to achieve the same affect.

The process usually relies on an overstorey of “parent trees” being present or on parent trees being close by to provide the seed. These parent trees will usually of been thinned and managed with natural regeneration in mind.

8

Existing areas of nat-regen are then usually developed through carefully thinning the surrounding woodland over a number of years, to give more light and space to ensure the young trees can establish themselves into larger trees eventually allowing them to be incorporated (‘recruited’) into the main crop for the next rotation at some point in the future.

Usually done in small groups or in strips this system can allow a varied woodland structure to develop over time. Protection from competing plant species and mammal browsing might be required in the early stages by fencing or using tree shelters.

Plantation on PAW(S) This is an ancient woodland site that appears to have an Ancient been planted, usually with a species that is not native Woodland to the site and surrounding area and usually conifer. (Site)

Rotation Generally a commercial term used to describe the length of time an area of trees is growing for, from the time of planting to the time of felling. For broadleaves a rotation is generally a lot longer than that of conifer species* and can broadly speaking be anywhere between 80 years to 3-400 years, as opposed to conifer crops whose rotation is generally shorter but can vary from 20-25 years to 120 years plus. *The exception being that of coppice where rotation length can vary from 5 or 6 years up to 30 years plus depending on management objectives.

“First rotation” would refer to an area of wood planted on open ground not previously wooded. And so “second rotation” is one where woodland has been cleared and replanted.

Sense of A factor or set of factors that give a specific location Place special character, making it unique in its own intangible way. Often it is a combination of character, features, quality, space and associations that creates and gives a unique sense of identity to a location.

Shelterwood A management system that is applicable to conifer or broadleaf, where tree canopy is maintained at one or more levels without the need to clearfell the whole

9

site. Felling can occur, but generally in small “groups” whose size shape and spatial distribution will vary depending on site conditions. The “groups” are then either: allowed to develop and establish by the use of natural regeneration, are planted or are established using a mixture of both techniques. This known as a “group shelterwood system”

A variation on this is “Single tree selection”. This variation removes individual trees of all size classes more or less uniformly throughout the stand to maintain an uneven-aged stand and achieve other stand structural objectives. While it is easier to apply such a system to a stand that is naturally close to the uneven-aged condition, single tree selection systems can be prescribed for even-aged stands, although numerous preparatory thinning interventions must be made to create a stand structure where the system can truly be applied.

Silviculture A term coined during late 19th century from the Latin silva meaning 'wood' and the French culture meaning 'cultivation' and so Silviculture is the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and quality of forest vegetation to achieve a full range of forest resource objectives.

Silvicultural These refer to a wide range of complete regimes for systems the regenerating, tending, and harvesting of forests and are called "silvicultural systems".

Stand A group or area of trees that are more or less homogeneous with regard to species composition, density, size, and sometimes habitat.

Thin TH Selective removal of trees from a wooded area, giving remaining trees more space to grow into larger trees. Thinning is done to: 1. Improve the quality and vigour of remaining trees. 2. Remove trees interfering with mature or veteran broadleaf trees. 3. Give space for tops (or “crowns”) of broadleaf trees to develop and potentially act as a future seed source. 4. Give space for natural regeneration to grow and develop with the intention of recruiting these younger naturally grown trees as a part of the future woodland structure.

10

5. Create gaps for group planting or enrichment. 6. Remove species of tree that may compromise the intended management objective of the woodland eg: non-native or invasive species such as Sycamore, Western Hemlock or birch. 7. Improve the economic value of a wood. 8. Help realise opportunities to enhance ecological value.

NOTE: This list is not in any order of priority and will vary depending on management objectives.

Yield Class YC A method of measuring the growth rate or “increment” of a crop of trees by age and height; measured in m3 per Ha per annum. E.g. A crop with a YC of 16 is one that has an annual increment of more than 16m3 but less than 17m3, although generally only even numbers are used when stating YC.

11