Longfleet Drive Open Space - Proposed Management of Woodland/Shrubs And
AGENDA ITEM 5
BOROUGH OF POOLE
CANFORD HEATH EAST AND WEST, CREEKMOOR AND OAKDALE AREA COMMITTEE
2 JANUARY 2008
REPORT OF HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
LONGFLEET DRIVE OPEN SPACE - PROPOSED MANAGEMENT OF WOODLAND/SHRUBS AND IMPROVEMENTS/CONSTRUCTION OF PATHS
1. Purpose of Report
1.1 To consider changes to a proposed programme of woodland management for the open space at Longfleet Drive following guided walks held to explain the proposals to the public.
2. Recommendations
2.1 Members of the area committee are recommended to:
(i) note the high level of interest generated by the proposed works and the comments, both supportive and critical, made on the proposals;
(ii) acknowledge the importance of the site in landscape and ecological terms and the concerns and interests of those who use the site or live nearby;
(iii) give their support to the revised programme of works, including the changes made as a result of public comments.
3. Background information
3.1 Longfleet Drive open space lies either side of the brick path way running from Canford Heath Road to Canford Heath Nature Reserve. It consists mainly of semi-natural woodland, some parts of which have a dense under-storey of evergreen Rhododendron. The majority of the site is surrounded by residential properties, with approximately one hundred properties directly backing onto the site.
3.2 A programme of management works, including the removal of Rhododendron, thinning of existing trees and the creation of a new path network was recently prepared for the site aimed at:
(i) encouraging the development of existing tree stock by selective thinning to give individual trees more opportunity to grow and develop, and allow more light to reach the woodland floor, thereby encouraging the development of the woodland under-storey plants;
(ii) provide a better network of paths allowing more accessibility of the site, these to be surfaced for site users with mobility problems and to create a range of walks available in inclement weather;
(iii) reducing the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour, by removing cover;
(iv) reducing the risk of fire on the site;
(v) encouraging natural regeneration of trees and native under-storey plants to ensure the long-term survival of the woodland by removing non-native shrubs such as Rhododendron aided, where appropriate, by planting; and
(vi) discourage fly-tipping, particularly of garden waste
3.3 The work programme followed on from similar works (phase 1-3) carried out on some parts of the site during the winters of 2005-2007.
4. Issues raised during and following guided walk
4.1 The proposed works for this coming winter were explained at two guided walks held recently. Approximately twenty members of the public and one ward Cllr attended the two walks; correspondence was also received from two other persons.
4.2 A number of generally supportive comments were made regarding the proposed work and acknowledging that the wood would benefit from the woodland management proposed. However, some concerns were also expressed regarding particular issues and these are summarised below:
(i) Path network and opening up of glades
Although some of those attending the walks acknowledged that the wood used to be more open and was better for that, others expressed concern that the glades and the proposed enhancements to the path network would make the wood too open. There was also a general feeling, for some, that the level of path provision was too great and the paths would be unnecessarily wide and, in one place, gave views into a nearby property. Some also felt that not all paths needed a gravel surface as the existing surfaces were adequate for most users.
(ii) Boundary treatment to woodland at Sandhills Close
Some comments were made that the woodland needed to be kept secure against travellers, other unauthorised vehicles and fly tipping, but the opening up of the glades and paths could increase the risk of such problems. Equally some were concerned that the fence proposed along the edge of the wood would be visually intrusive and not effective (alternatives such as stone boulders, a hedge or wooden “dragons’ teeth were mentioned – but it was acknowledged that most options had both good and bad points).
(iii) Rhododendron removal
The issues associated with dense stands of rhododendron were acknowledged (including an observation that there had been lots of fires in such vegetation in the past). However, it was requested that one area proposed for clearance (at Winterhayes Close) was retained to provide privacy and also that an additional area was cleared (behind Cheddington Close) as this had been a particular problem with anti-social behaviour. Requests were also made that if Rhododendron is flailed, the mounds of arisings are removed as soon as possible as these had attracted antisocial behaviour in the past.
(iv) Provision of a seat on Longfleet Drive
Although the value of a seat was acknowledged (especially for the elderly), there was a concern that this itself could become a focus for anti-social behaviour.
(v) Potential impact on protected species
Protected species are known to visit some of the properties near the woodland in Sandhills Close. Although the woodland management work and rhododendron removal were intended to improve the habitat, for example food supply should be better in woodland with a more varied structure, there was a concern that loss of cover or disturbance whilst work was being carried out could adversely affect the animals and a request that expert advice be sought on the issue.
REVISED WORK PROGRAMME FOLLOWING CONSULTATION NOVEMBER 2007
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS ARE SHOWN IN BOXES WITH ANY AMENDMENTS BENEATH IN ITALICS
Breakdown of works
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS
1. Rhododendron between Sandhills Close and Stourpaine Road, (adjacent to red brick path) also beside Winterhayes and Willwood Close
This will be removed as in previous years, to create a light, open, more user friendly area. This work will also be beneficial to wildlife.
This will be done by:
· Use of a tractor mounted flail in order to complete the work as rapidly as possible and minimise the disruption
· Trees within the Rhododendron to be carefully worked around and retained.
· There will be three Rhododendron bushes retained along the path edge. Depending on their form, it may not be possible to retain them as wished, if this is the case then they will be cut along with the rest but then allowed to re-grow in the desired locations.
· These will provide a link back to the history of this once ornamental drive to Canford House. These bushes will be at alternate spacings in conjunction with the bushes already in situ on the opposite side of the path.
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS
· Depending on how much mulch is generated it will probably be necessary to bring in a digger to scrape up this material for removal.
· Some planting of native shrubs, such as Hawthorn and Hazel will be undertaken along with some sapling trees.
· The Rhododendron beside Willwood and Winterhayes to be removed completely, this operation will be with chainsaws and not the flail
Concerns were raised about protected species within the main area, as previous survey work was very difficult to carry out due to the Rhododendron being denser than other areas, and as such the exact wildlife usage was unclear. For this reason a new survey was carried out, this did reveal some evidence of protected species having occasional use of the area.
Advice given from experts in the particular field required, state that if the correct procedures are followed that works could commence in July 2008 and that in the long run the works will be beneficial to the species.
However it is the Council’s decision to defer this area of work to a later date. The Council will work with local experts and will undertake further monitoring and take advice as needed.
The time scale for when this work will now be undertaken will be dependant on continuing survey work in the area, the earliest would be autumn 2008. This will also allow at least one further year for the continuing re-generation of vegetation along the drive and more time for wildlife to adjust to the changes.
There was also concern about the piles of Rhododendron chippings and humus if left, as this looked unsightly and there were issues regarding antisocial behaviour. Any scraping of such materials would be removed from site during the process as with the previous phase of work.
The Rhododendron beside Winterhayes and Willwood Close in the view of the Council will not have their privacy adversely affected due to distance from and height of the property’s above the footpath. This criteria has been applied throughout.
1a Removal of Rhododendron clump between Sandhills and Cheddington Close. (Please see amended map)
This clump of Rhododendron is an addition to the original work plan, as it was raised during the walks as being particularly bad for anti-social behaviour, with one lady mentioning that she has had to report several fires in this one location. The removal of this clump will also improve safety as it falls on a junction of well used paths.
A general comment was made that the fires had ceased between Cheddington and Bettiscombe Close where previously there were a number that occurred in the Rhododendron, this was seen as very positive.
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS
2. Woodland adjacent to Sandhills Close and to the south of Stourpaine Road
This woodland is subject to a Woodland TPO (tree preservation order). The senior Arboriculture officer has had the details of our proposals as well as having been on site and is happy in principle with the proposed works. No trees are to be removed over 20cm diameter at breast height (DBH) except for health and safety reasons (at present it is anticipated only one needs to be removed for this reason). Full permissions are subject to a formal tree application being submitted, this will be done after Leisure services have carried out consultation.
A detailed map showing the extent of the management within this woodland (approximately 30% of woodland area to have some tree felling) can be found at the end of this report.
The aims are to:
· Remove only dead trees in the north east sector. (Shown as orange on map).
· Remove dead, dying and suppressed trees where these hinder the development of better trees in the south east sector, approximate thinning of around 50 %. (Shown as brown on map). No live trees to be removed over 20cm DBH (unless found to be unsafe).
· Some standing dead wood away from paths will remain as well as some lying dead wood for ecological benefit.
· Leave clumps of trees to protect views across woodland.
· Remove all Rhododendron clumps and other non-native shrubs, this will be done by chainsaw and not the tractor mounted flail used on the large tract of Rhododendron mentioned above.
· Remove encroaching trees and non-native shrubs from existing glade which faces onto Sandhills Close, these are predominantly around the perimeter. (Shown as cream on map)
· European Gorse along Sandhills Close to be cut, and then mown annually to manage fire risk, some small pockets of western gorse will be kept. (shown as green on map)
A concern was raised about both the re-creation of the glade and the removal of the gorse as this would open up a large area. It would be preferred if a natural edge to the woods was retained with natural growth allowed to block and define the boundary to the road. The same person was also not aware of fires and felt that the Council could not destroy habitat because of anti-social behaviour and that it is illogical and would only move the problem elsewhere.
The glade is a natural feature already in existence adjacent to the road, this will soon be lost to encroaching vegetation if no management is carried out. This would cause the loss of the lower growing plant species that need sunlight and also the range of insects associated with these other plant species. Being south facing this also is a good suntrap and is quite sheltered, again ideal for insects. The gorse has now become very leggy and offers little in the way of cover and is generally in poor condition. Normally such gorse is coppiced to create a denser lower standing form. This would then need re-visiting about every 5 years, as the area in question is small it would be easier to manage on a mowing regime along with the glade, it will also aid the control of anti-social behaviour as the fire risk will be massively reduced. The height here is off particular concern as if it did catch fire there is a lot of combustible material and the flames would easily reach the tree canopy. It will mean that this area will merge with the glade and therefore will offer the same benefits, but cover would be very much reduced due to the annual cut never allowing more than a year’s growth. This will be addressed by cutting areas on a rotation, this will create a more varied structure and some interface between the glade and the wood. Depending on the plant species some may be left for several years and others will be cut annually.
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS
· Create two additional glades where wood is already fairly open to benefit ground flora (Shown as cream on map).
This will be reduced to one additional glade at present; the second will be carried out at the time of the deferred rhododendron.
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS
· Clear some trees so as to create a new path diagonally across the site SW-NE. This will be two metres wide with a one metre mown strip along each side, creating a ride which will allow landrover access if necessary.