Alderney Community Woodland Management Plan 2019-2023 Alderney Community Woodland Management Plan 2019-2023 Report compiled by: Connor Stapleton Goddard Reviewed by: Roland Gauvain and Lindsay Pyne Alderney Wildlife Trust 48 Victoria Street Alderney, GY9 3TA Channel Islands [email protected] www.alderneywildlife.org 1 Connor Stapleton Goddard Alderney Community Woodland Management Plan 2019-2023 Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Summary of Management to Date ................................................................................. 5 1.2.1 2009-2013 ..................................................................................................... 5 1.2.2 2014-2018 ..................................................................................................... 6 2. Site Description .................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Location ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Land Tenure .................................................................................................................. 7 3. Site Evaluation ................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Soil ............................................................................................................................... 8 3.2 Habitats ........................................................................................................................ 8 3.2.1 Woodland ..................................................................................................... 9 a. Native trees ............................................................................................................... 9 b. Planted coniferous woodland ................................................................................... 10 c. Semi natural broadleaved woodland ........................................................................ 10 d. Native broadleaved planted woodland (AWT Planting) ............................................. 10 e. “Rick’s Wood” .......................................................................................................... 11 3.2.2 Scrub ........................................................................................................... 11 3.2.3 Hedges ........................................................................................................ 11 3.2.4 Glades ......................................................................................................... 11 3.3 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 11 3.4 History and Archaeology ............................................................................................. 12 3.5 Amenity Value ............................................................................................................ 12 3.5.1 Access and footpaths ................................................................................... 12 3.5.2 Features ...................................................................................................... 13 a. Woodland Bunker .................................................................................................... 13 b. Observation Bunker ................................................................................................. 14 c. Kommandant’s Bunker ............................................................................................. 14 d. Other German fortifications ..................................................................................... 14 e. The upper Quarry Gantry base for Battery Quarry .................................................... 14 f. The Rocks ................................................................................................................ 15 g. The Sand Pit ............................................................................................................. 15 h. Children’s Area ........................................................................................................ 15 2 Connor Stapleton Goddard Alderney Community Woodland Management Plan 2019-2023 3.6 Utilities Services .......................................................................................................... 15 4. Management Aims ........................................................................................................... 16 5. Management Objectives ................................................................................................... 17 6. Constraints ....................................................................................................................... 18 7. Implementation ............................................................................................................... 19 7.1 Maintain the structural diversity of the site ................................................................... 19 7.1.1 Managing the glades .................................................................................... 19 7.1.2 Controlling grass competition ...................................................................... 19 7.1.3 Controlling invasive/noxious weeds ............................................................. 20 7.2 Maintain and manage the spread of dense scrub ........................................................... 20 7.3 Develop and implement a grazing plan with the AGAP herd……………………………………… …20 7.4 Continue aftercare and monitoring of planted trees ..................................................... 20 7.5 Collect ecological data about the site for measuring past successes and to inform future management ...................................................................................................................... 21 7.6 Enhance areas of native woodland .............................................................................. 21 7.6.1 Replace non-native conifers with native broadleaved species ....................... 21 7.6.2 Coppice sycamore stand .............................................................................. 22 7.6.3 Begin thinning effort in planted areas .......................................................... 22 7.7 Undertake surveys of both residents and tourists to develop an understanding of the use of the site ........................................................................................................................... 22 7.8 Maintain and improve existing memorial features ....................................................... 22 7.9 Create provisioning for future memorial features ......................................................... 23 7.10 Maintain and improve historic features ....................................................................... 23 7.11 Maintain footpaths and access to the site .................................................................... 23 7.12 Provide amenity and recreational facilities in the ACW................................................. 23 7.13 Develop and implement and Economic Harvesting Plan for the ACW ............................ 24 7.13.1 Selling products from the orchard ............................................................. 23 7.13.2Develop a range of products from all areas of the wood utilising the skills of locals and visiting specialists ............................................................................................... 24 7.13.3 Trial harvesting and selling hazelnuts from the various copses .................... 24 7.13.4 Open dialogue with local bee keepers to place hives along the borders of the glades………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….24 7.14 Using survey data, increase the success of outreach and community engagement ........ 25 7.15 Maintain a safe environment in the ACW ..................................................................... 25 8. Monitoring the Effects of Management............................................................................. 26 3 Connor Stapleton Goddard Alderney Community Woodland Management Plan 2019-2023 9. Management Plan Review ................................................................................................ 26 10. References ....................................................................................................................... 26 11. Appendices ...................................................................................................................... 28 4 Connor Stapleton Goddard Alderney Community Woodland Management Plan 2019-2023 1. Introduction 1.1 Background The Alderney Community Woodland (ACW) is the result of many thousand years of human activity. Alderney’s strategic position turned it into a key point in the English Channel which was disputed by the Romans, Normans, British and Germans (Gander) creating a diverse landscape where historic features and a variety of habitats for wildlife come together. The ACW is home to a variety of habitats, broadleaved and coniferous woodlands, stunning grasslands and diverse scrub. Yet the island is perhaps the most denuded