Page 4 - Conservation Impact Report 2016
P. 4
Woodland
Conservation Status Conservation Strategy
9.9% (1.3 million hectares) of England is woodland7, but Maintaining the diversity of woodland means some
only 1.2% is semi-natural ancient woodland, around areas are left to their own devices, while others need
158,000 hectares8. The structural diversity of woodland intensive management to keep them in favourable
provides niches for a huge range of species, and for condition, and thus supporting rare and specialist
some types of species, such as lichens, woodlands woodland wildlife. Woodland management primarily
provide the most diverse habitat9. consists of keeping a network of open, sunny rides and
rotational coppicing.
Woodlands support a diverse range of specialist
species including silver-washed fritillary (a species In the first years following coppicing these areas are
which declined in the 20th century, but has increased flooded with sunlight allowing woodland flora such
its range more recently10) willow warbler (an Amber as primroses and violets to flourish. As the trees start
list species, which has had a modest decline in recent to regrow, dense patches of scrub develop creating
years, with populations in the south east suffering the ideal conditions for dormice and birds such as
most11) and Bechstein’s bat (one of the UK’s rarest warblers. Some of the timber generated is stacked up
mammals, with possibly only 1500 adults in the and allowed to rot down naturally, providing a home
entire population12). 11% of all woodland species are for fungi and invertebrates. Scallops or bays along the
threatened with extinction in Great Britain13. edges of rides are also cut on rotation, ensuring that
the rides slowly grade into the mature woodland, thus
providing a wide range of environmental conditions,
ideal for invertebrates and birds.
BBOWT manages 997ha of woodland, 479ha of which are classified as Ancient Woodland.
95% of BBOWT woodlands are classified as favourable or recovering.
Woodland ride
3
