Woodland Management: Rides, Glades and Coppice

10 Kent Wildlife Trust Land Management Advice Series

Woodland management: rides, glades and coppice

This advice sheet contains information about the following topics:

● why ‘manage’ woodlands?

● management of woodland: introducing more sunlight by opening up the canopy

● species which benefit from coppiced woodland, rides and glades

Carpet of bluebells in recently coppiced woodland © A.Waite ● before starting any work

● creating and managing rides Kent is one of the most wooded timber for construction, firewood and food & glades counties in the South East, with well such as cobnuts. Contrary to popular belief, ● coppicing over 45000ha of woodland ranging most of the woodlands which we know so from sweet chestnut coppice and wet well today have come about as a result of ● grants and felling licences woodland to lowland beech and yew being managed, and the wildlife which we ● legislation and other considerations woodland and mixed broadleaved have come to associate with this particular woodland. Many factors will come into habitat will gradually disappear if these ● protected species play to determine why a woodland woodlands are no longer managed. ● further reading and references has evolved in a particular manner and what species are present: geology, soil Coppicing is a traditional management ● further advice type, drainage, aspect, present and technique which can rejuvenate a tree and past management, isolation from other allow it to last for many years and provide woodlands, and presence of browsing further crops of timber or wood. Some of animals such as deer, to name but a few. our oldest trees may be coppice stools

This leaflet is designed to give you a rather than single stem trees (known as a broad introduction to the benefits of ‘standard’). coppicing and the creation of rides and Both coppicing and the creation of rides and glades and covers some of the main glades mimic natural processes of fires and issues to think about. However, you storms (such as the 1987 hurricane) which are advised to seek professional advice open up expanses of woodland to sunlight, before starting any management work allowing ground flora to flourish, taller such as coppicing. grassland areas to thrive, and fallen trees Why manage woodlands? to rot down. Eventually, scrub takes over, For many centuries, our woodlands were saplings grow, and the woodland canopy intensively managed to provide coppice and closes up again. All of these areas provide Silver-washed fritillary © B.Chapman timber products such as fencing materials, unique habitats for an array of species.

Large print version available by calling 01622 662012

Your living landscape. Your living seas. Male slow-worm © Dr Lee Brady

Management of woodland: many species have very specific larval ● starting to build up your own records introducing more sunlight foodplant requirements (for example, the (please read our advice sheet Recording by opening up the canopy caterpillars of the silver-washed fritillary wildlife: getting started) feed on common dog-violet) and are reliant As a general rule, woodlands which are ● obtaining professional advice from on nectar for food. Other species such as structurally diverse and have a wide range of organisations such as Kent Wildlife Trust bumblebees will also benefit from an increase micro-habitats tend to have more biodiversity. in nectar and pollen-rich plants. Bats do forage ● writing a short management plan (2-4 Structural diversity means that there are, for for insects along woodland rides but be aware pages), with a map showing what work example, trees of different ages (which is that some species prefer closed canopy and you intend to do and in which years (see not the case in a beech or conifer plantation), dense understorey and will not benefit from section on ‘Grants and felling licences’) but also different physical ‘layers’: leaf litter opening up woodland. and soil, ground vegetation, understorey of ● if there are archeological features on saplings and shrubs, taller coppice and young Before starting any work your land, such as internal woodbanks trees, and then the woodland canopy. Micro- Before undertaking any management work, or charcoal pits, then you need to habitats include standing and lying deadwood, you need to check what plant and animal be careful how you undertake the damp and shady areas, sunny, sheltered species are currently present on site to make management of any trees that are glades, scrub, ponds, standards (single stem sure that any work will not adversely affect growing on those features and should trees or timber trees as they are sometimes some rare and protected species. Woodland seek expert advice (see ‘Further known), veteran trees, pollards and coppice plant species (including lichens, ferns and reading’). Inappropriate management stools. mosses) which have taken centuries to build such as using heavy machinery can cause compaction and other damage. Research indicates that many species prefer up can be very quickly impacted by heavy to live in the first ten metres from a woodland machinery, changes in light conditions and Creating and managing competition from faster growing species such edge, where there is more sunlight. Coppicing rides & glades and creating rides and glades can enhance as grasses and bramble. Other species such the biodiversity of a woodland by increasing as bats can be inadvertently affected if the A ride is a linear trackway designed for the levels of light, rejuvenating individual trees ambient conditions surrounding a bat roost access; depending on management, it and allowing shorter vegetation and shrubs to tree are altered. can have several zones: a central track or pathway, some taller grassland areas grow, thus creating more structural diversity Key information gathering and planning can either side and then some shrubs and and micro-habitats leading up to the edge of include: the taller trees. bramble thicket grading into the taller ● looking up historical and habitat information woodland trees. Glades are openings Species which benefit from for your woodland, which may give you within a woodland, and can either be coppiced woodland, rides clues about past management. The Kent coppiced or left as grassland and scrub. and glades Landscape Information System website Where possible, glades and rides should (http://www.kent.gov.uk/klis/home.htm) Many species groups will benefit, including link up to create wildlife corridors. It may provides maps going back to 1870 and dormice and other small mammals, not be appropriate to create large glades shows which woodlands are designated dragonflies which forage for insects along or wide rides in small woodlands; creating or classified as Ancient Semi-Natural woodland rides, birds such as nightingale and Woodland (at least 400 years old). chiffchaff, and reptiles which like to bask in the shorter, warmer grassland areas (with ● contacting the Kent and Medway Biological scrub and tall grassland for cover nearby). Record Centre http://www.kmbrc.org.uk/ Butterflies and moths will benefit from an to find out about any wildlife records for increase in wildflowers and grasses, since your site Even narrow grassy paths can benefit wildlife Scallop along woodland ride Zoned woodland ride management © J. Weightman © J. Weightman © Kent Wildlife Trust

‘scallops’ along narrow paths and rides can ● if the woodland is very small, it may not usually offer a suitable alternative. be appropriate to coppice the required minimum area; however, one can get ● where possible, create or manage rides around this by creating a shallow coppiced running east to west since these receive ‘scallop’ along the woodland edge or ride more sunlight; however, you may need (preferably running east-west) to work around historical pathways already present ● the regrowth can be particularly vulnerable to browsing from deer or rabbits (deer ● think about prevailing winds to make in particular since they are taller and can sure that a ride does not act as a wind reach the regrowth for the first two or three tunnel with potential for damage to trees years); repeated browsing can kill the stool. ● avoid introducing new wildflower seed Coppicing a woodland will dramatically alter the Please see Further reading. look of the woodland, at least for the first two or or saplings: regeneration is generally three years © Kent Wildlife Trust ● it is better to allow natural regeneration better and will ensure that only adapted, to take place if you would like to diversify local species can grow. There are often or so. You may also wish to consider how the species in your woodland; however, many bulbs and seeds in the ground just your woodland fits into the wider landscape: if you do wish to plant some new saplings, waiting for the opportunity to flower, if several adjacent landowners are already make sure they are of local provenance and given a little sunlight and space. coppicing large tracts of woodland nearby, suitable for your soil and woodland type there may be less need to reinstate coppice ● manage any scrub growth by cutting on your land. one third of the scrub every 3-5 years or so between November and February ● coppicing involves cutting each pole (stem) (this will ensure nectar and berries are on the stool (stump) as close to the ground available every year) as possible, at an angle. Most species will respond well to coppicing, given the ● cut the central part of the ride short on a right conditions, although species such as yearly basis, at the end of the summer oak and beech are very slow growing and ● cut longer grass areas on a three year therefore tended to be left as timber trees. cycle, as for scrub ● depending on the species, the coppice will Coppicing need to be cut again every 5-20 years Coppiced woodlands can include pure ● as a rule, the area to coppice (a coupe) coppice or coppice with standards. Not all should be between 0.25 and 1 hectare; woodlands have been coppiced in the past any smaller and the coppice will be in the and you should only consider re-introducing shade and not grow well; rotate coppice a coppicing regime to woodlands which areas within your woodland to create a Recent coppice © R. Jarrett have been coppiced in the last 60 years chequerboard effect Further reading and references Forestry Commission Practice Guides on a wide range of topics are available to download for free or buy a hard copy. Call Forestry Commission Publications on 0161 495 4845 or look online at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ publications.nsf/

Forestry Commission. (2009) So, you own a woodland? Getting to know your wood and looking after it. An excellent (free) 37 page booklet giving a broad introduction to most Very old hazel coppice © A. Waite aspects of woodland management. Grants and felling licences Management of Health and Safety at Work Kent Wildlife Trust Regulations 1992. Land Management Advice Series You may be able to apply for a grant from Woodland management: control of the Forestry Commission for writing a ● check that your contractor is aware of M25 rhododendron and cherry laurel. management plan and for certain types of regulations concerning protected species managementA2 work. Please visit the Forestry and designated sites Rackham, O. (2001) Commission’s Grants andDartford Regulations in Trees and Woodland in the British 34 A20 A2 ● if you are buying a woodland, check with 22 Landscape. Published by Phoenix Press, England,A232 Land Information Search (LIS) yourA249 solicitor whether any obligationsReculver will London. and Felling15 Licences webpages at http://Chatham Visitor Centre Margate 12 M20 A228 be transferred from theHerne previous Bay owner 5/25 10 www.forestry.gov.uk/14 to check on current Sittingbourne 26 Small Woodland Owners Group 31 16 33 37 43 20 6 ● 27 13 regulations and schemes in your area, as2 42well 9 forM2 sites with public access46 or which are website and monthly newsletter M25 M26 Jeffery Harrison Tyland 47 Visitor Centre 19 Barn very visible to the public, you may wish to35 as for advice on the maps you will need to Canterbury with information about woodland Sevenoaks A26 MaidstonMaidstonee 18 submit with your application. Please32 note that 21 inform the public in advance of the work management, events, contacts and Bough Beech M20 40 A2 Visitor Centre and explainA2 why8 4it is necessary A256 felling work will usuallyTunbridgeTonbridge require Wells a felling licence much more www.swog.org.uk 8 48 and we would recommend only carrying24 A229 3 ● Ashford The Conservation Volunteers there17 are a range 38of pests29 and11 plant out the work out betweenA21 November and 1 23 Woodlands: a practical handbook and 41 diseases which affect woodland36 and28 may February. M20 A20 Cranbrook need39 to be taken into account (eg. ash Dover other handbooks available to buy from 45 A2070 A26 30 dieback). http://store.tcv.org.uk/ Legislation and other7 44 Folkestone A259 considerations South East Woodland Archeology

Protected speciesRomney Marsh ● if the site is designated (e.g. a Site of Visitor Centre Forum: archeological feature A21 A number of species such as the hazel Special Scientific Interest or Ancient Lydd identification toolkit available to dormice, breeding birds, great crested newts Semi-Natural Woodland) or included download from http://www.sewaf.org. and all bat species are protected by law and in a government scheme such as the uk/surveying-and-lidar/id-toolkit/ you need to make sure that you are complying Environmental Stewardship Scheme, with all relevant regulations before doing any you will need to follow the guidelines set habitat management work. A good place to out in any agreements start for more information is to look at the Obtaining further advice ● all contractors working on the site must Natural England Protected Species List and For further information, please contact wear adequate personal protective Frequently Asked Questions webpages, the Trust’s Land Management Advice equipment and adhere to all health available here: http://www.naturalengland.org. Service by calling 01622 662012 or by and safety requirements set out in law uk. Alternatively, contact your local Natural emailing [email protected] or regulation, in particular The Health England office and explain what surveys or and Safety at Work Act 1974 and The management work you are planning to do.

Head Office: Kent Wildlife Trust, Tyland Barn, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3BD Head Office: Kent Wildlife Trust, Tyland Barn, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3BD Tel: 01622 662012 Fax: 01622Tel: 67139001622 [email protected] Fax: 01622 671390 [email protected] Registered CharityRegistered No. 239992. ACharity company No. limited 239992. by guarantee A company No. 633098. limited VAT Registration by guarantee No. 974842378. No. 633098. VAT Registration No. 974 8423 78