Woodland Ecology

It is often assumed that our woodlands will look after themselves, however, this is often not the case and if managed effectively, they not only prosper but can provide many benefits. The aim of our woodland ecology project is to support the estate from an education perspective, to help implement an effective management plan to provide a healthy, safe, resourceful and biodiverse woodland. This woodland ecology project not only offers huge benefits to the estate, it offers a unique opportunity to teach our clients about biodiversity, plant biology , dendrology and the safety & skills required for tree surgery.

Our strategy includes

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• Support method to help thinning of Laurel; this will improve the quality of growth and wood by reducing competition for canopy space. Furthermore, it will result in more light being able to reach the understory, encouraging a greater variety of understory species.

• Leave a proportion of fallen trees; although deadwood might be unsightly, it creates a fantastic habitat and provides resources for invertebrates and larger organisms throughout the year.

• Maintain rides and glades; aim for 10% of open space within the woodland as this will allow enough light through the canopy to encourage woodland flora.

• Reuse the wood strategically; the tress which we will remove will be used on future projects to develop outdoor classrooms and teach woodworking and crafting skills. .

• Encourage natural regeneration by using tree shelters on young plants; this will help to stop deer grazing, reducing the need to re-plant woodland. We are also planning to create a deer management plan.

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