Winter Work Completed (Part 2)
Although the majority of readers are probably more interested in seeing reports of butterflies now that the season is underway, I thought I’d squeeze in one more post about some of the habitat work I’ve been involved with over the winter.
Few people will be fortunate enough to own their own woodland, or even a small part of a larger wood, but for those that do, this might provide some guidance on what can be achieved with some focused management. Before any such work starts, it is vital that a Forestry England-approved woodland management plan is put in place, and a felling licence obtained.
This property, informally known as ‘Ravens’, is in West Sussex and I first offered advice on how it could be improved about twelve years ago. After being invited back to give further advice, and having seen that the owners had harvested a large and gloomy block of conifer, I have now become more closely involved with the management, performing much of the hands-on work myself.
The western end of the wood comprises c.8.7 hectares of species-rich natural regeneration, following the clear-felling of non-native conifer in 2010. Within this area, there are some small blocks of planted and tubed English Oak. Large scallops have been cut into the margins of the main ride, which are now being mown on a piecemeal rotational basis. We have also had the mulcher in over the winter, to further widen the main ride running through this area and future-proof it against shading as the adjacent canopy increases in height. This sort of work always looks brutal immediately afterwards, but the area will look beautiful by next summer.
The remainder of the total c.37.95 hectares is a mixed bag, comprising more-mature woodland and including some nice wet areas. This is the part of the wood in which I’ve been working over the winter, together with a friend/business partner.
During the first three years of the (five-year) grant-funded woodland improvement agreement (WD2 option), other contractors were involved in what I would describe as standard thinning operations. I believe that standard thinning provides only limited and short-term benefits to wildlife, as the increase in light penetration is soon lost to rapid canopy closure; more importantly, it never produces the more extensive and joined-up areas of sunny woodland floor required by warmth-loving invertebrates.
Although standard thinning operations improve the growth rate and form of the remaining stock (important if timber yield is a key aim, as is often the case), the owners wish to focus on improvements which specifically benefit the now rich fauna and flora present here, and further increase the biodiversity of their wood.
Over the last two years, we have therefore moved away from standard thinning, to focus more on the creation of well-linked open areas, particularly in parts which will receive more sunlight. In doing so, we have also attempted to mimic some natural processes. Aside from the usual log stacks, we have also felled some groups of trees and left them lying in piles, unprocessed, as if windblown.
Around the rear margins of some of the glades we have created, we have ‘beavered away’ to ring-bark numerous Silver Birch (and one large Turkey Oak), to create standing deadwood zones of future benefit to cavity-nesting birds, beetles and fungi.
We have also favoured the retention of sallows (usually weeded-out by foresters), as they support so many species of moth, and the strong population of Purple Emperor butterfly which resides here.
The site has already produced some good bird records, the most notable being a significant population of Nightingale. On one evening visit in May 2019, we recorded seven singing males in the area of natural regeneration. Cuckoo is also annually present, together with Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. In summer 2020, a family group of Spotted Flycatcher was seen here, suggesting they bred in the wood.
The area of natural regeneration now supports Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Brown Hairstreak. The latter has also been seen within the wider property, along with White Admiral and White-letter Hairstreak. Other more notable species include Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary, Purple Hairstreak, Marbled White, Small Copper and Common Blue.
All of this goes to show that a previously dark and unmanaged wood, with a relatively restricted fauna and flora, can be turned into an absolute haven for wildlife. The owners feel justifiably proud of what has been achieved here … and it’s only going to get better.
Area of natural regeneration
Area of mature woodland
