Woodland Management Plan Woodland Property Name Mardley Heath Local Nature Reserve Case Reference Plan Period dd/mm/yyyy Approval Date: 1/10/2015 To: 1/10/2020 (ten years) Five Year Review Date October 2020 Status Reason for Revision No. Date (draft/final) Revision 1 March 2015 Draft End of previous plan period The landowner agrees this plan as a statement of intent for the woodland User Support To maximise the functionality available: • Connect to the internet; • Enable macros as prompted; • Where the text is blue and underlined additional information is available, hover over the text with your mouse and double click to open; • Where you see the symbol, left click on either the symbol or the adjacent cell and press the F1 key for a further explanation of the detail required; • Throughout the document where you see ‘Add Box’ double click on the text and additional boxes will appear. 1 | Management Plan Template | I&R Team | 01/06/2016 V1.1 UKFS Management Planning Criteria Approval of this plan will be considered against the following UKFS criteria, prior to submission review your plan against the criteria using the check list below. Applicant No. UKFS Management Plan Criteria Approval Criteria Check Forest management plans should state Have objectives of management the objectives of management and set been stated? Consideration given 1 out how the appropriate balance to economic, environmental and between economic, environmental and social factors (Section 2.2) social objectives will be achieved. Forest management plans should Does the management strategy address the forest context and the (section 6) take into account the 2 forest potential and demonstrate how forest context and any special the relevant interests and issues have features identified within the been considered and addressed. woodland survey (section 4) In designated areas, for example Have appropriate designations national parks, particular account should been identified (section 4.2) if so 3 be taken of landscape and other are these reflected through the sensitivities in the design of forests and work proposals in the forest infrastructure. management strategy (Section 6) At the time of felling and restocking, the Felling and restocking are design of existing forests should be re- consistent with UKFS forest design 4 assessed and any necessary changes principles (Section 5 of the UKFS) made so that they meet UKFS Requirements. Consultation on forest management Has consultation happened in line plans and proposals should be carried with current FC guidance and out according to forestry authority recorded as appropriate in section 5 procedures and, where required, the 7 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. Forests should be designed to achieve a Do the felling and restocking diverse structure of habitat, species and proposals create or improve 6 ages of trees, appropriate to the scale structural diversity (refer to the and context. plan of operations) Forests characterised by a lack of Do the felling and restocking diversity due to extensive areas of proposals create or improve age 7 even-aged trees should be progressively class diversity (refer to the plan of restructured to achieve a range of age operations) classes. Management of the forest should Has a 5 year review period been conform to the plan, and the plan stated (1st page) and where 8 should be updated to ensure it is current relevant achievements recorded in and relevant. section 3 New forests and woodlands should be When new planting is being located and designed to maintain or proposed under this plan is it 9 enhance the visual, cultural and consistent with UKFS and FC ecological value and character of the guidance on woodland creation landscape. 2 | Management Plan Template | I&R Team | 01/06/2016 V1.1 1. Property Details Woodland Property Name Name Mardley Heath Owner Tenant Email [email protected] Contact Number 01707 357418 Agent Name (if applicable) Mr S Levy Email [email protected] Contact Number 07740 718885 Welwyn Hatfield County Hertfordshire Local Authority Borough Council Grid Single Business TL 245185 107142304 Reference Identifier Management Plan Area (Hectares) 37 Have you included a Plan of Operations with Yes No this management plan? Location Plan Reserve Infrastructure List the maps associated with this management plan Compartment Plan (to be referred to when reading Work Programme) Habitats and features Do you intend to use the information within Felling Licence the management plan and associated plan of Thinning Licence operations to apply for the following Woodland Regeneration Grant Tick to declare management control and agreement to public availability of the plan 3 | Management Plan Template | I&R Team | 01/06/2016 V1.1 2. Vision and Objectives To develop your long term vision, you need to express as clearly as possible the overall direction of management for the woodland(s) and how you envisage it will be in the future. This covers the duration of the plan and beyond. 2.1 Vision Describe your long term vision for the woodland(s). Mardley Heath will continue to be an oak / hornbeam woodland but one where open sunny glades and clearings with regenerating heathland and grasslands on generally acidic soils will be sympathetically managed. Young oak and hornbeam saplings regenerating within the declining birch woodland will be promoted, hornbeam pollards maintained in appropriate condition and the hornbeam in Brokers Garden Wood regularly coppiced. Woodland products such as woodfuel arising from thinning and glade enlargement will be harvested, where ground conditions allow, thus contributing to the local economy and helping to provide a small income to fund woodland conservation. Dynamic regeneration of a range of vegetation, along with appropriate management on this once open gravel pit will continue to support a wide range of locally important wildlife, especially rare invertebrates, many of them derived from its early history as a more open wood pasture common. Mardley Heath will be an important recreational resource for local residents with good public access for all abilities along well-marked permissive trails and rights-of-way with places to sit and enjoy the woodland at all times of the year. The Friends of Mardley Heath will continue to be important partners in the site’s future management. 2.2 Management Objectives State the objectives of management demonstrating how sustainable forest management is to be achieved. Objectives are a set of specific, quantifiable statements that represent what needs to happen to achieve the long term vision. No. Objectives (include environmental, economic and social considerations) 1 To retain and enhance or extend by appropriate management those features derived from wood pasture common including heathy glades, pollarded trees and coppice. 2 To encourage, generally by thinning, coppicing and allowing natural regeneration, a varied age structure of primarily oak / hornbeam / birch woodland over the majority of the site, especially those areas regenerating after 4 | Management Plan Template | I&R Team | 01/06/2016 V1.1 No. Objectives (include environmental, economic and social considerations) mineral extraction, but where this will not compromise Objective 1. Wherever practicable, outputs of thinning and coppicing will be sold as woodfuel to support local markets and provide a small income to offset costs of management. 3 To continue to monitor species populations , especially butterflies and solitary bees, so as to steer habitat management. 4 To provide a safe and attractive experience for adjacent residents and visitors, with anti-social elements controlled as far as possible 5 To encourage community involvement in management by supporting with training, PPE, tools and advice the Friends of Mardley Heath Add Box No. Objectives (including environmental, economic and social considerations) 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 3. Plan Review - Achievements Use this section to identify achievements made against previous plan objectives. This section should be completed at the 5 year review and could be informed through monitoring activities undertaken. Objectives Achievement Maintain and enhance wood pasture Glades on north and south side of reserve features have been extended by removal of birch and sycamore and maintained by mowing once annually. Heather (Calluna) has regenerated naturally following re-introduction. Heath milkwort has re-established from long- buried seed after absence of 130 years (only 2 other locations in Herts). 8 hornbeam pollards have had crown reductions. 5 | Management Plan Template | I&R Team | 01/06/2016 V1.1 Maintain varied age structure of oak / Silver birch is naturally declining in several hornbeam woodland areas, allowing young oak to come through. Young invasive sycamore has been removed in some areas to encourage oak and hornbeam. Path-side vegetation has been coppiced to vary the structure Monitor species populations to steer Butterfly transect monitoring undertaken habitat management for 5-6 years has identified small recovery in populations of rarer woodland and heathland species, especially in sunny glades and rides. Monitoring of solitary bees/wasps has brought about out scrub coppicing to maintain open south-facing gravel banks Maintain safe and attractive woodland A surfaced 250m easy-access trail for less for neighbours and visitors mobile visitors has been created on level route between car park and south pit. An all-mobility trail for bicycles and horse- riders is now waymarked