What is a woodland management plan?
At its most basic, a woodland management plan is a working document, which provides a central point to keep all of the paperwork associated with the management of a woodland, with information about the boundaries, features and woodland character.
How do you involve children in woodland management?
Involving children in the maintenance and use of tools to manage the woodland can be a way to introduce sustainable management to children. Younger children can work with loppers or shears to cut back overgrowth from paths whilst older children could use bow saws to fell small trees or to cut and clear fallen wood.
What is sustainable woodland management?
Simply put, sustainable management is when landowners decide to manage their woodlands today in a way that will ensure equal or greater benefits, productivity or health of that woodland in future generations.
How can forest school harm the woodland?
If we overuse an area the footfall has a negative impact on the environment, causing bare earth to be exposed by the trampling of the field layer and some damage to shrubs. This could also impact on ground nesting birds and biodiversity.
How are woodlands managed?
The Wildlife Trusts manage hundreds of woodland nature reserves and this often involves a mix of approaches – some areas are managed by coppicing and maintaining open areas like rides and some areas are left to go wild.
How do you involve learners in your sustainable woodland management?
Involve children in any planned management activities such as harvesting or coppicing and planting or felling. Involving children in the maintenance and use of tools to manage the woodland can be a way to introduce great sustainable woodland management to children.
How do you thin out woodlands?
How to thin. Select the best formed trees to keep and remove the surrounding trees, giving them more space to grow. Thinning is done gradually over many years, removing a few trees every five or 10 years. If your young trees are planted close to existing, mature trees, consider halo thinning.
Why do we manage woodlands?
They absorb noise, pollution and carbon dioxide, they release oxygen, screen buildings, reduce flooding and provide a source of sustainable livelihoods and timber. By managing woodlands sustainably we are nurturing a habitat that is brilliant for both wildlife and people.
How is pollarding sustainable?
Coppicing is a sustainable method of using a woodland to produce timber. It involves cutting a young tree back to ground level. Pollarding can help trees to live for longer as there is not as much weight or height to the tree, limiting the impact of wind.
Who manages woodland in the UK?
Forestry England
Of the total UK woodland area, 0.86 million hectares is owned or managed by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service (in Northern Ireland).
Should woodland be managed?
Active management of woodlands will ensure a wide range of species, genetic diversity and age structure; the main elements essential to ensure resilience. Ensuring owners/managers are engaged in management also helps in combating the spread of pests and pathogens.
Why are forest schools often run in woodland?
Forest Schools are often run in Woodland that isn’t owned by the leader/practitioner. It is essential as a practitioner that you have an understanding of what the forest is being used for and its management plan. This knowledge will allow for practices and use of areas to be adjusted to minimise the impact of being in the woodland.
What do you need to know about a woodland management plan?
A woodland management plan gives land managers a structured way to plan and organise the sustainable management of woodland to a common industry standard. The UK Forestry Standard sets out the UK government’s approach to sustainable forestry and woodland management, including standards and requirements, regulations and monitoring, and reporting.
Why do forest schools need a management program?
If the land owner doesn’t have a management program in place it maybe useful to engage them in the creation of one. This will help the landowner understand the impact of the forest school and may even help them change their perspective of the woodland and how people and nature interact.
What do you need to know about the UK Forestry Standard?
The UK Forestry Standard sets out the UK government’s approach to sustainable forestry and woodland management, including standards and requirements, regulations and monitoring, and reporting. It applies to all woodland and woodland operations, regardless of who owns or manages it. Why create a management plan?