Item 7 North York Moors National Park Authority Planning Committee 14 January 2016 Forest Design Plan Consultations – Boltby Forest (FDP 36) 1. Purpose of the Report 1.1 To report the Forest Design Plan (FDP) revision to Members for information and comment. 2. Background 2.1 Forest Enterprise (FE) produces a strategic plan for each of its larger forest areas which sets out the longer term aims and objectives, as well as more detailed management proposals for a ten year period. The Authority has been provided with a copy of the draft revised plan for Boltby Forest covering years 2015 to 2024. The area covered is shown on Plan 1 (Appendix 1). 2.2 The National Park Authority is a statutory consultee on the FDP. The public consultation period has not yet started but is expected to be open until the end of January. Once complete the plan will be due for approval (with or without amendments) by Forest Services (the regulatory part of the Forestry Commission). 2.3 FDP’s consist of a written statement of the main management issues and are supported by a series of plans which illustrate the main felling and restocking proposals, as well as other background plans which have guided the management options being proposed. With the electronic report presentation format it is now practical to reproduce all the design plan documentation which is located in Appendix 2. This is the draft plan and any variations in the final version will be reported to members at the meeting. Any queries on the presentation of information in these documents can be made to officers prior to the meeting. 3. Boltby – Description 3.1 The 632.1 hectare forest comprises a network of woodlands and forest plantations along the western escarpment of the Hambleton Hills and extending onto former moorland to the north. The land was acquired by the Forestry Commission between 1928 and 1972. Former land use was rough grazing and moorland although some areas including land at Southwoods and Gurtof were already wooded. The Forestry Commission is the freeholder of the land. 3.2 Currently broadleaved tree cover is approximately 24%, conifer is 62%, and open ground is 14%. At the start of the previous plan the equivalent figures were 15%, 74% and 11%. Open ground includes land felled awaiting regeneration, permanent open space and a small area of tenanted agricultural land. 3.3 The woodlands are very prominent in the landscape, and highly visible from settlements, viewpoints and public rights of way. Evergreen conifers dominate and harvesting through clear felling is carried out giving rise to significant visual impact. Generally felling coups are well designed to minimise this but there are some minor areas of concern. 3.4 There is no formal recreation provision within the forest. It is registered as open access land and is well used by walkers and riders. The Cleveland Way runs along the western flank. Organised car and motorcycle events take place throughout the year. 3.5 Lake Gormire is the one site designated as a SSSI within the forest and the North York Moors SSSI lies adjacent to the main forest block on Boltby Moor. Ancient Woodland Sites account for 13% of the wooded area, and the majority of this is already in the process of restoration to native broadleaved woodland. 4. Objectives 4.1 A summary of the FDP objectives for Boltby Forest are set out below: • Maintain the land within our stewardship under UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) certification. • Maintain and improve the cultural heritage value of these woods. • Improve the resilience and adaptation to climate change, pests and diseases of the natural environment. • Improve the economic resilience of these woods from a more diverse range of site appropriate conifer and broadleaf species. • Encourage communities to become involved across these woods, its management and direction though consultation in planning and participation in volunteering. 5. Comment 5.1 Considerable improvements to biodiversity and landscape have been initiated in Boltby Forest over the last plan period. Much of this has been in the Ancient Woodland Sites of Southwoods where conifer has been removed through works jointly funded by the Authority. These areas are now regenerating well, although as expected some conifer is present in the mix and future monitoring will be required to confirm broadleaf species are dominant. 5.2 Sustainable timber production continues with clear felling, group felling and thinning ongoing. As mentioned in 3.3 above some recent clear fell patches do not fit well with the landform. We expect that these anomalies are the result of changes to harvesting plans made in response to wind damage and will be rectified through future felling. Improvements in species and structural composition along with an increasing proportion of broadleaf cover should also have positive effects on landscape. 5.3 Open habitats are largely accommodated by the cycle of felling and regeneration that is carried out through the forest. Where the forest adjoins designated heathland habitats conifer sites after felling will be allowed to regenerate naturally to provide a successional habitat of trees and heathland flora. The habitats created will be highly beneficial, but they are unlikely to remain static and therefore monitoring will be required to confirm their positive contribution to biodiversity. 5.4 The long term future habitat and species projection (100 years) is 42% conifer, 44% Broadleaf with 14% temporary and permanent open ground. 6. Conclusions 6.1 Officers are supportive of the approach in this plan which builds on the excellent work carried out in the last plan period and introducing a strategy for responding to climate change, pest and disease issues. No specific management issues have been identified 7. Financial and Staffing Implications 7.1 None 8. Contribution to National Park Management Plan 8.1 In terms of the National Park Management Plan, the recommendations contained in this report will have the following significant beneficial sustainability implications; • Better connected and more resilient woodland habitat networks E36; • PAWS restoration E38; • Plantation forests managed in accordance with sustainable forest management principles E39. • Promotion of best practice in forest management B14 9. Legal Implications 9.1 None 10. Recommendation 10.1 That: • The Boltby Forest Design Plan is welcomed for the contribution it makes to National Park purposes; • Comments are made to the Forestry Commission as above along with any other comments which Members may wish to make. Contact Officer: Mark Antcliff Woodland Officer Tel No 01439 772700 NORTH YORK MOORS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Boltby FDP - Map 1 (Appendix 1) Yorkshire Forest District Boltby Forest Plan FDP 36 2015 Outgang Road Pickering North Yorkshire YO18 7EL 0300 067 4300 FOREST ENTERPRISE - Application for Forest Plan Approvals in England Boltby Forest Plan Forest Enterprise - Property Forest District: Yorkshire Woodland or property name: Boltby Nearest town, village or locality: Thirsk OS Grid reference: SE 490 890 Local Authority district/unitary Authority: North York Moors National Park Areas for approval Conifer Broadleaf Open Felling 42.0 - - Restocking 50.1 3.10 0.30 Continuous Cover 11.5 1. I apply for Forest Plan approval for the property described above and in the enclosed Forest Plan. 2. I confirm that the pre consultation, carried out and documented in the Consultation Record attached, incorporated those stakeholders which the FC agreed must be included. Where it has not been possible to resolve specific issues associated with the plan to the satisfaction of consultees, this is highlighted in the Consultation Record. 3. I confirm that the proposals contained in this plan comply with the UK Forestry Standard. 4. I undertake to obtain any permission necessary for the implementation of the approved Plan. Signed …………………………………… Signed …………………………………… Forest Management Director Area Field Manager District …………………………………… Area …………………………………… Date …………………………………… Date of Approval……………………….. Date approval ends………………………… 2 | Boltby Forest Plan text | N Rylance | Boltby Forest Plan CONTENTS 1. Background 2. Describing the Site 2.1 Geology and Soils 2.2 Tree Species 2.3 Wind Damage 2.4 Landscape 2.5 People and Community 2.6 Natural Heritage 2.7 Cultural Heritage 3. Describing the Project 3.1 Project Brief 3.2 Objectives 3.3 Constraints 3.4 Implementation 3.4.1 Conservation 3.4.2 Timber Harvesting 3.4.3 Landscape 3.5 Plan 3.6 Areas 3.6.1 Breakdown of felling areas within the period of the plan 3.6.2 Breakdown of constituent areas 3.7 Methods/Forest Operations 3.7.1 Planning 3.7.2 Standards 3.7.3 Harvesting 3.7.4 Haulage 3.7.5 Restocking 4. Monitoring 4.1 Clearfells 4.2 Restock 4.3 Continuous Cover 4.4 Design Plan 5. Determination of Impact Significance and Mitigation 3 | Boltby Forest Plan text | N Rylance | Boltby Forest Plan 5.1 Ancient and Native Woodland 5.2 Flora 5.3 Other Objectives APPENDICES 1. Consultation Record 2. Priority woodland bird species 3. CCF Justification 4. Restock species by soil type 4 | Boltby Forest Plan text | N Rylance | Boltby Forest Plan Boltby 632.1 Hectares Period of Plan: 2015 - 2024 1. Background Boltby Forest is part of a network of forests managed by Forest Enterprise (FE), Yorkshire Forest District, located within the Cleveland Beat. It is situated approximately 8 kilometres north-east of Thirsk within the south-west corner of the North York Moors National Park. The land was initially acquired by the Forestry Commission between 1928 and 1974 and shortly afterwards started establishing the forest over the majority of the land, previously managed as rough pasture and moorland. A proportion of the land at Southwoods was already established with broadleaved woodland. This is a freehold property. 2. Describing the Site 2.1 Geology and Soils (FP Map 01) Underlying geology is predominantly sedimentary sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone of predominantly but not exclusively the Long Nab Member, formed in the mid-Jurassic period.