BIRCH WOOD AND WARREN VALE PLANTATIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN 2005 - 2010 0 Contents 1.1 General Information............................................................................................ 4 1.1.1 Location................................................................................................................ 4 1.1.2 Ownership information......................................................................................... 4 1.1.3 Formal designation and constraints ..................................................................... 4 1.1.4 General site description........................................................................................ 5 1.2 Environmental information.................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Physical ................................................................................................................ 6 (a) Hydrology...................................................................................................... 6 (b) Topography................................................................................................... 6 (c) Geology........................................................................................................ 6 (d) Pedology. ..................................................................................................... 6 (e) Climate......................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Biological.............................................................................................................. 7 1.2.2.1 The biodiversity resource ..................................................................................... 7 (a) Flowering plants, ferns & bryophytes........................................................... 8 (b) Fungi ............................................................................................................ 9 (c) Invertebrates ................................................................................................ 9 (d) Amphibians, fish and reptiles ....................................................................... 9 (e) Birds............................................................................................................. 9 (f) Mammals ................................................................................................... 11 1.2.3 Cultural.............................................................................................................. 11 1.2.3.1 Legal obligations. .............................................................................................. 11 1.2.3.1 (a) Purchase conditions..................................................................................... 11 (b) Public rights of way and other access........................................................ 11 (c) Wayleaves and easements ....................................................................... 12 (d) Artificial structures...................................................................................... 12 (e) Insurance ................................................................................................... 12 (f) Boundary responsibilities........................................................................... 12 (g) The Forestry Acts....................................................................................... 12 (h) The Heritage Lottery Fund Award.............................................................. 13 (i) The Forest Stewardship Council................................................................ 13 (j) Protected species - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) ...... 13 1.2.3.2 Site safety.......................................................................................................... 13 (a) Dangerous trees ........................................................................................ 14 (b) Natural features - steep slopes, water/wetland areas................................ 14 (c) Manmade hazards - rope swings............................................................... 14 (d) Flytipping and dangerous rubbish.............................................................. 14 (e) Conflicting recreational uses...................................................................... 15 (f) Fire plan..................................................................................................... 15 1.2.4 Archaeology and historic interest....................................................................... 15 (a) Archaeology. ............................................................................................. 15 (b) Land use history........................................................................................ 15 1.2.5 Community involvement, recreation and access................................................ 16 (a) Access and recreation ............................................................................... 16 (b) Community involvement............................................................................. 17 (c) Education and interpretation...................................................................... 17 1.2.6 Landscape value................................................................................................ 17 1.2.7 Tourism.............................................................................................................. 17 2 The Woodland Resource................................................................................. 25 2.1 Quantitative Assessment................................................................................... 25 2.1.1 Methods of site survey, inventory and classification ......................................... 25 2.1.2 Summary of inventory......................................................................................... 25 2.1.3 Compartment descriptions................................................................................. 25 1 2.2 Silvicultural assessment and management options ........................................... 27 2.2.1 Birch Wood......................................................................................................... 27 2.2.2 Warren Vale Plantations..................................................................................... 28 2.3 Sustainability and management for biodiversity ................................................. 30 2.3.1 Sustainability ...................................................................................................... 30 2.3.2 Management for biodiversity. ............................................................................. 30 2.3.3 Priority habitats................................................................................................... 30 2.3.4 Biodiversity action plan species ......................................................................... 30 3. The Administration and Economy................................................................... 36 3.1.1 The administrative organisation .......................................................................... 36 3.1.2. Labour sources................................................................................................... 36 3.2 The forest industry.............................................................................................. 36 3.2.1 Wood markets, present and future ..................................................................... 36 3.2.2 Methods of sale .................................................................................................. 36 3.2.3 Methods of conversion, extraction and transport ............................................... 36 3.3 Sources of grant aid ........................................................................................... 38 3.3.1 Heritage Lottery Fund Award.............................................................................. 38 3.3.2 Forestry Commission - Woodland Grant Scheme.............................................. 38 3.3.3 English Nature Local Nature Reserve Grants .................................................... 38 3.3.4 South Yorkshire Forest Partnership ................................................................... 38 4. Aims, Objectives And Management Prescriptions ........................................ 40 4.1 Summary of present position.............................................................................. 40 4.1.1 Silviculture .......................................................................................................... 40 4.1.2 Nature conservation ........................................................................................... 40 4.1.3 Recreation and access....................................................................................... 41 4.1.4 Archaeology and historic interest ....................................................................... 41 4.1.5 Landscape.......................................................................................................... 41 4.1.6 Community involvement..................................................................................... 41 4.1.7 Education and interpretation………………………………………………………... 40 4.2 General policy of the Council ............................................................................. 41 4.3 Aims and objectives of management ................................................................. 42 4.4