The potential for developing a normal age-structure in managed ancient woodland at a local scale in three English counties

Abstract

Summary This paper describes a model for assessing the potential for sustained management of ancient woodland at the local landscape scale, based on the premise that a 'normal' forest structure is the best option for integrating nature conservation with provision of a regular supply of timber. The concept of 'normality' is applied to clusters of small ancient woods which are considered together and treated as a whole. Data on ancient woodland distribution are used from West Sussex, Essex and North Yorkshire. At ten sample points within each county the woodland area within a 25-km2 block centred on the point was considered to see whether a normal forest structure could be created and maintained by sustained management using likely minimum felling rates and average rotation lengths for the main species for both high forest and coppice systems. The model was also tested for situations where small woods or woods with conservation status were excluded from the system, as well as for different minimum felling rates. The areas proposed for felling within ancient semi-natural woods currently listed within the Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) (II) are higher than can be maintained in the longer term in West Sussex and Essex. The model provides a preliminary method for setting the context of individual forestry schemes within the wooded landscape as a whole.