Management Plan - The Woodland Trust

Transcription

Victory Wood
Victory Wood
Management Plan
2010-2015
Victory Wood
MANAGEMENT PLAN - CONTENTS PAGE
ITEM
Page No.
Introduction
Plan review and updating
Woodland Management Approach
Summary
1.0
Site details
2.0
Site description
2.1 Website synopsis
2.2 Summary description
3.0
Public access information
4.0
Long term policy
5.0
Key Features
5.1 Ancient Semi Natural Woodland
5.2 Secondary Woodland
5.3 Open Ground Habitat
5.4 Informal Public Access
6.0
Work Programme
Appendix 1: Compartment descriptions
Glossary
MAPS
Access
Conservation Features
Management
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THE WOODLAND TRUST
INTRODUCTION
PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATING
The Trust’s corporate aims and management
approach guide the management of all the
Trust’s properties, and are described on Page 4.
These determine basic management policies
and methods, which apply to all sites unless
specifically stated otherwise. Such policies
include free public access; keeping local people
informed of major proposed work; the retention
of old trees and dead wood; and a desire for
management to be as unobtrusive as possible.
The Trust also has available Policy Statements
covering a variety of woodland management
issues.
The information presented in this Management
plan is held in a database which is continuously
being amended and updated on our website.
Consequently this printed version may quickly
become out of date, particularly in relation to the
planned work programme and on-going
monitoring observations.
Please either consult The Woodland Trust
website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or contact the
Woodland Trust
(wopsmail@woodlandtrust.org.uk) to confirm
details of the current management programme.
There is a formal review of this plan every 5
years and a summary of monitoring results can
be obtained on request.
The Trust’s management plans are based on the
identification of Key Features for the site and
setting objectives for their management. A
monitoring programme (not included in this plan)
ensures that these objectives are met and any
necessary management works are carried out.
Any legally confidential or sensitive species
information about this site is not included in this
version of the plan.
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WOODLAND MANAGEMENT APPROACH
The management of our woods is based on our charitable purposes, and is therefore focused on
improving woodland biodiversity and increasing peoples’ understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Our strategic aims are to:
• Work with others to plant more native trees to enable the creation of more native woodlands
and places rich in trees
• Protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future
• Inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
All our sites have a management plan which is freely accessible via our website
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk. Our woods are managed to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard
(UKWAS) and are certified with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) through independent audit.
In addition to the guidelines below we have specific guidance and policies on issues of woodland
management which we review and update from time to time. These include our approach to the
restoration of Planted Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), deer management, control of non-native
invasive species, tree safety and bio-security.
We recognise that all woods are different and that the management of our sites should also reflect
their local landscape and where appropriate support local projects and initiatives. Guidelines like
these provide a necessary overarching framework to guide the management of our sites but such
management also requires decisions based on local circumstances and our Site Manager’s intimate
knowledge of each site.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The following guidelines help to direct our woodland management:
Our woods are managed to maintain their key features of value. We intervene in our woods
when there is evidence that it is necessary to maintain or improve biodiversity. Wherever
possible our management aims to support natural processes.
We provide free public access to woods for quiet, informal recreation and woods are managed
to make them accessible, welcoming and safe.
Our ancient trees are retained for as long as possible.
All of our non-native conifer plantations on ancient woodland sites are restored to a
predominantly native species composition and semi-natural structure.
We establish new native woodland using either natural regeneration but largely through tree
planting, particularly when there are opportunities for involving people.
Existing semi-natural open-ground and freshwater habitats on our estate are restored and
maintained wherever their management can be sustained and new open ground habitats
created where appropriate.
The long-term vision for our non-native conifer secondary woods is either to convert them to
predominantly native woodland or to restore them to semi-natural open ground.
The heritage value of woods is taken into account in our management.
We work with neighbours, local people, organisations and other stakeholders in developing the
management of our woods. We recognise the benefits of local community woodland ownership
and management. Where appropriate we allow our woods to be used to support local
woodland, conservation, education and access initiatives.
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SUMMARY
This public management plan briefly describes the site, specifically mentions information on public
access, sets out the long term policy and lists the Key Features which drive management actions.
The Key Features are specific to this site – their significance is outlined together with their long (50
year+) and short (5 year) term objectives. The short term objectives are complemented by a
detailed Work Programme for the period of this management plan. Detailed compartment
descriptions are listed in the appendices which include any major management constraints and
designations. A short glossary of technical terms is at the end. The Key Features and general
woodland condition of this site are subject to a formal monitoring programme which is maintained in
a central database. A summary of monitoring results is available on request.
1.0 SITE DETAILS
Site name:
Victory Wood
Location:
Grid reference:
Yorkletts
TR093619, OS 1:50,000 Sheet No. 179
Area:
Designations:
140.40 hectares (346.94 acres)
Ancient Semi Natural Woodland, Candidate Special Area of
Conservation, Tree Preservation Order
2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
2.1 Website synopsis
Enjoy a taste of history at Victory Wood, planted to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, and
explore its role in linking together two stands of ancient woodland.
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2.2 Summary description
The Woodland Trust purchased Victory Wood (140.26 hectares) in 2004 which is centred between
the villages of Dargate and Yorkletts some 3 miles north of Canterbury, Kent, and lies in the North
Kent Plain Natural Area between the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and
the Thames Estuary.
Victory Wood sits between 2 separate areas of Ancient Woodland, Blean Wood to the western side,
and Ellenden Wood to the east and this is part of the Blean Woods Complex or “The Blean”. “The
Blean” contains an important concentration of ancient woodlands covering over 3,000 hectares, and
this is the largest continuous wooded area in Kent, forming a mosaic of woodland and farmland in an
arc along the north side of Canterbury. To the north of Victory Wood lies Graveney Marshes and
Sea Salter Level which are dedicated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and RAMSAR
sites due to their importance for wildfowl and as a salt marsh habitat.
Victory Wood, at the time of purchase consisted of 133.04ha of grade 3 arable land and 7.59ha of
existing woodland. There had been a proposal by the previous owners to make the site into a
Landfill Site but this was never granted Planning Permission. During 2005-2008 Victory Wood
became a major woodland creation site when secondary woodland was established through
extensive community efforts over approximately 80ha along the southern boundary. This new wood
now links together Blean Wood and Ellenden Wood once more. These 2 woods had been connected
up until the early to mid 20th Century, when the ancient woodland was cut down in a piecemeal way
and converted to agriculture when it was part of Lamberhurst Farm.
Victory Wood is so named because it is the Flagship site for the Trafalgar Woods Project of 2005 to
commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) organised by the Woodland Trust
and the Society for Nautical Research. The Trafalgar Woods Project established 27 new woods, one
wood for every boat which took part in the British fleet at this battle. At Victory Wood there are a
number of interpretative structures (statue of Nelson, Victory Footprint, Chain Link and Trafalgar
battle plan in trees) which are themed around the Battle of Trafalgar but which are linked to the
importance of trees/woodlands and how different tree species were traditionally used.
The terrain at Victory Wood is undulating with the ground rising up to a long ridge at the southern
end of the site. This gives on a clear day, spectacular views north towards the Isle of Sheppey and
the Thames Estuary, and south over the Blean Woods Complex. Our existing area of ancient
woodland can be found at the south west corner adjacent to the public highway. At the base of the
ridge a deep ditch, called the Hawkins Hill Ditch, runs northeast-southwest draining the land towards
Ellenden Wood. At the edge of Ellenden Wood is a small pond situated on the ditch line. The soil at
Victory Wood is clay soil from the Windsor Series which overlay a thick deposit of London Clay.
Victory Wood has a good network of permissive paths across it and these can be accessed from the
4 pedestrian access points.
3.0 PUBLIC ACCESS INFORMATION
General location:
Victory Wood is situated immediately south of Dargate Road between Yorkletts and Highstreet and
is approximately 3 miles south from the centre of Whitstable. Victory Wood is also situated between
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Ellenden Wood to the north east and Blean Wood to the south west. Access off the A299 or Thanet
Way is within 0.25 mile of the car park at Victory Wood.
By road:
- From the A299, take the exit signposted “Yorkletts, Dargate, Waterham” beside the Service
Stations (on either side of the road), into Highstreet. Follow Highstreet Road for approximately 300
metres until there is a sharp bend. At the bend turn right following the sign for Victory Wood (and
Lamberhurst Farm), and our car park entrance is immediately afterwards on the left hand side under
a height restriction barrier.
- By Public Footpath:
There is no Public Footpath which leads into Victory Wood. There are possible links from existing
Public Footpaths via roads to Victory Wood. The nearest one comes north out of the Blean National
Nature Reserve (at Church Wood) onto Denstroude Lane. Follow the road north eastwards towards
Blean village for approximately 0.5 mile until you reach a sharp right angled bend in the road. At this
point turn left onto a stone track (also a Bridleway entrance into Ellenden Wood), and an entrance
into Victory Wood will be found ahead of you.
General overview of paths & entrances:
Entrances: There are 4 entrances to Victory Wood.
- 1 entrance (our main entrance) is from our car park off Dargate Road which has a height
restriction barrier over the entranceway. The car park has 1 exit into the site via an All Access
kissing gate, suitable for pushchairs and takes one into the Victory Copse area. Further All Access
kissing gates then lead you either onto the All User Path or into our open ground habitat and to the
Victory Footprint. A surfaced path has been constructed for wheelchair/pushchairs to allow access to
the Victory Footprint from the car park.
- 1 entrance on the northern boundary off Dargate Road over a stile with an adjacent dog flap. This
leads into the grazing area and straight to the HMS Victory Footprint after about 100 metres.
- 1 entrance in the south west of Victory Wood off Dargate Road via a pedestrian squeeze gap. This
is opposite Blean Wood which is on the other side of road. This entrance has no car parking facility
and the road is too narrow to leave cars parked on the edge. From the entranceway the path leads
into mature woodland up a steep slope.
- 1 entrance in the south east corner of Victory Wood off Denstroude Lane adjacent to Ellenden
Wood. Access into Victory Wood is via an All Access kissing gate. Emergency access is required
through this gateway at all times therefore car parking is not permitted on the track leading up to our
access gateway. This entranceway leads directly into the woodland creation areas at Victory Wood.
All of the paths are unmodified grass and earth surface, which can get slippery and muddy when wet
particularly in the winter. There are some steep slopes at the southern end of Victory Wood. Within
the open ground habitat there are livestock grazing this habitat.
An All Access Path allows horse riders, pedestrians and off road push bikes to cross Victory Wood
on a designated route from our car park entrance to our entrance off Denstroude Lane in the south
east. This route is open all year round but restricted to the spring and summer months for horses
only.
Parking:
Parking is available for up to 18 cars at our car park off Dargate Road. There is a vehicle barrier and
height barrier across the entrance to the car park which is locked each evening and opened the
following morning. There are no specific facilities for locking bikes to apart from the rustic post and
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rail fence which surrounds the car park.
There are no parking facilities at any of our other entrances.
Public Transport:
The nearest bus stop: Barn Close at Yorkletts. There are connections from here to Whitstable town
centre (Saddleton Road) and to Dargate village beside the Dove Inn.
The nearest train station: Whitstable which is on the London – Faversham - Margate line. Whitstable
station is approximately 3 miles from our car park along public roads.
This information is from Traveline website as at January 2007. Further information about public
transport is available from Traveline - www.traveline.org.uk or phone 0870 608 2 608.
Public Toilets:
Situated at the service area on the A299 at exit signposted “Yorkletts, Dargate, Waterham”,
approximately 0.25 mile by road from our car park off Dargate Road. Disabled access facilities are
found here, open daily.
Information as of January 2007.
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4.0 LONG TERM POLICY
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The Woodland Trust bought the land of Lamberhurst Farm which has become Victory Wood to
demonstrate the restoration of a landscape, a landscape that had been radically changed during the
second half of the 20th century through intensification of land use, large loss of woodland to
agriculture which resulted in a loss of a wooded connection between 2 major woods.
Restoration of the landscape by The Woodland Trust implied a reversal of this trend and a reduction
of agricultural intensification through establishing new (secondary) woodland and other semi-natural
habitats thereby encouraging habitats to be linked together, and buffering areas of ancient
woodland. The long term intention is to continue this type of management and establish woodland
over approximately 70% of the site.
All the secondary woodland will follow our fifth Woodland Management Approach Principle (as given
on page 3), whereby: The Woodland Trust’s semi-natural recent-secondary woodland is allowed to
develop naturally with the premise that natural succession leads to species diversity and abundance
increasing over time. Intervention such as thinning or coppicing will occur if there is a clear need for
tree safety reasons or there is a gain in public understanding or enjoyment by any such intervention
such as maintaining view points. Within the secondary woodland are significant unplanted areas
where new native woodland will be allowed to establish naturally. The conservation ride through the
woodland creation area will be managed so as to maximise its benefit to wildlife through an
appropriate mowing regime and coppicing along the ride edges.
The former arable area sown to grass known as the Open Ground Habitat, will continue to be grazed
and converted into a wood pasture habitat whose tree cover will occupy approximately 20% of this
habitat. The wood pasture habitat will be established by a combination of wide spaced planting of
individual and small groups of trees and also allowing a scrub habitat to develop.
The area of ancient woodland will follow our first Woodland Management Approach principle
whereby: The Woodland Trust’s ancient semi-natural woods (ASNW) are allowed to develop
naturally. In essence this area will be left to mature and grow old, and will provide old growth
characteristics. In time beyond 50 years from now, this area will begin to take on a more seminatural appearance as the stand changes to form a high forest structure with the expectation that
species diversity and abundance will in the long term increase by allowing natural succession to
take place.
Public access at Victory Wood will remain with a good network of walks across the site linking to
other parts of “The Blean”, with car parking available at our car park. The Multi User Path will remain
an access route for horses and push bikes although horses will only have seasonal access during
the drier spring and summer months.
The Woodland Trust will use Victory Wood as a demonstration to others in how to create woodland
and carry out innovative people engagement activities.
The Woodland Trust’s Corporate Objectives which are relevant to this site are:
• Enabling the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees
• Protecting native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future
• Inspiring everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees.
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5.0 KEY FEATURES
The Key Features of the site are identified and described below. They encapsulate what is important
about the site. The short and long-term objectives are stated and any management necessary to
maintain and improve the Key Feature.
5.1 Ancient Semi Natural Woodland
Description
A mixture of sessile oak mainly with some beech and hornbeam and a sporadic understorey of wild
service tree. Past management has been by coppicing (last cut in the 1950's), and this area is
unusual in having examples of beech coppice. There are no old standard trees.
Ground flora is absent over much of the woodland area, however where present it contains some
ancient woodland flora such as bluebells and wood anemone.
Significance
ASNW is a dwindling habitat and as such any remnant ancient woodland needs to be protected from
further loss.
Protecting ancient woodland, native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future is one of the
Woodland Trust's key Corporate Objectives.
This area of ancient semi-natural woodland is the remnant of the woodland which covered Clay Hill
(sub-compartment 2a) the majority of which was cleared and grubbed up during the mid 20th
century. It links to Blean Wood west of the public highway.
Opportunities & Constraints
Constraints:
This woodland is small in area and is situated on a slope. It is also cut off from the main part of
Blean Wood by the public road.
Opportunities:
To demonstrate and contrast the secondary woodland created in 2005 onwards with how semi
mature woodland looks like.
This is the only link there is of the woodland which used to exist on Clay Hill.
The secondary woodland created in sub-compartment 2a will help to buffer it and enable migration,
in time, of mammals, invertebrates and plants beyond its boundary.
Factors Causing Change
Natural succession to oak and beech high forest
Long term Objective (50 years+)
This previously coppiced area will be allowed to mature and senesce to form a high forest semi
natural habitat of predominately oak and beech, with a hornbeam and wild service understorey. With
natural processes taking place there will be an accumulation of deadwood habitat, and an increase
in the number of old trees. Regeneration of this area of ancient semi-natural woodland will be
through natural regeneration as and when gaps in the canopy occur through individual trees dying or
being blown over so long as deer numbers are kept to a low level.
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Short term management Objectives for the plan period (5 years)
No silvicultural intervention during this plan period to allow natural processes to take place. Tree
safety works along the boundary with the public highway and beside the permissive path network to
occur if necessary.
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5.2 Secondary Woodland
Description
Compartment 1b contains the most mature secondary woodland habitat which is over 100 years old.
During 2005-2008 a significant part of Victory Wood was converted to secondary woodland when
over 80ha was created which now forms sub-compartment 2a, and this will in time provide the
wooded link between Blean Wood and Ellenden Wood. This secondary woodland was created by
planting trees and woody shrubs, where a significant amount was planted through community
planting days and the Woodland Trust’s Tree For All Project involving local school children.
The 2005-2008 planting was carried out to the Forestry Commission’s "new native woodland" design
as described in the sub-compartment description for 2a and Appendix 2 lists the species planted.
The trees were all maintained during their establishment phase typically up to 3 – 4 years after
planting with weed suppression trialling straw mulch mats around each position. The trees were
protected from rabbit damage by fencing off the whole area.
Within this main area of secondary woodland are wide conservation rides.
Significance
The creation of more native woods and places rich in trees is one of the Woodland Trust's key
Corporate Objectives.
New woodland native planting of this kind increases the area of woodland in an area of the country
with intensive developmental pressures (road construction, channel tunnel rail link etc.)
It gives native species of animal, insect and plants new environments and habitats in which to exist.
In addition it will help make the semi natural ancient woodland habitat more robust in the face of
climate change, as the new secondary woodland planting will help "buffer" the core ancient
woodland areas and help join up isolated blocks of woodland to form bigger woods.
Constraints:
Mostly will be similar aged as all the planting was carried out within 3 years of each other.
Secondary woodlands are species poor for 100’s of years compared to ASNW areas.
Opportunities:
To provide a wooded link between 2 large but isolated ancient woodland areas.
To provide a woodland habitat on what was arable land.
To provide a buffer to the ancient woodland either side of the main area of secondary woodland.
To trial the use of mulch as a weed suppressant around newly planted trees.
Deer damage
Secondary woodland will be allowed to develop naturally and this includes natural regeneration
which develops within the planted matrix. Some of the open areas will perhaps remain open which is
also desirable. Intervention within secondary woodland areas will only occur if there are tree safety
issues particularly along ride edges, or if there are significant benefits for people’s understanding
and enjoyment of the woodland such as maintaining view points.
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The short term objectives during this plan period are:
- In sub-compartment 2a ensure that by the end of this plan period the tree stocking density is no
less than 1600 trees per hectare (to satisfy Forestry Commission grant conditions).
- Sub-compartment 2b is to be fenced to keep out grazing stock/rabbits and public access points
constructed during autumn 2011. From autumn 2011 to spring 2015 8.5ha is to be planted with a W8
native woodland mixture to achieve tree stocking density of no less than 1600 trees per hectare (no
less than 13,600 trees in total) to satisfy Forestry Commission grant conditions. Trees to be planted
in sinuous rows to form blocks of woodland of variable sizes interspersed with open ground (to total
approximately 35% of the area) with a permissive path network through it. This will fulfil the
landscape design objectives as outlined in the initial Landscape Assessment report.
- People engagement opportunities for visiting school parties to do tree planting events will be
throughout this plan period - see f4 for more details.
- Carry out deer impact assessment if damage is observed.
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5.3 Open Ground Habitat
Description
Converted from arable farmland the open ground habitat (forming approximately 30% of the site
area) was sown with a neutral grass mixture in the autumn of 2006 comprising of 4 types of rye
variants plus timothy, cocksfoot and wild red clover. Areas of wild flowers were also sown over this
habitat in inoculation patches. These will over the years spread out into the general grass matrix
surrounding them, either through animal transfer or by mechanical methods. This habitat has been
grazed by sheep since 2007 although grazing by a small number of cattle is the eventual aim.
A scrub element is to be allowed to develop over 20% of the area as grazing is reduced so that this
slowly converts to a wood pasture habitat. In addition individual trees and groups of trees are to be
established scattered across this habitat.
New species rich hedges have been established along the boundaries of this habitat to help improve
the connectivity between the different habitats at Victory Wood.
A pond was established in 2008 adjacent to Hawkins Hill Ditch as a new wetland feature.
This is a seasonally wet hollow filled by surface runoff.
A veteran oak tree (the only old tree on site) is situated in the small paddock opposite the car park.
This contains significant deadwood as well as having a hollow trunk.
Significance
Semi-natural habitats particularly wood pasture has suffered considerable losses in the C20th, and
any opportunity to create such a habitat should have significant benefits for wildlife.
Increasing biodiversity is one of the Woodland Trust's key Corporate Objectives as part of creating
places rich in trees and protecting their wildlife for the future.
Open space provides landscape views at this site enhancing the visitor experience.
Constraints:
Scrub habitat may not form as expected.
A range of animal species may be needed to graze the land which may be difficult to find.
Ragwort may become a serious problem due to low intensity grazing.
Opportunities:
To provide a mosaic of open grassland habitat with patches of scrub which will benefit ground
nesting birds invertebrates over a significant area.
Natural regeneration of scrub habitat, Ragwort
Open ground habitat to become a mixture of grass with wild flower rich areas with clumps of trees
along with areas of scrub or woody shrubs converting towards a wood pasture habitat. Scrub habitat
to spread over up to 20% of the area. Habitat to be maintained primarily by grazing animals.
Newly planted hedgerows to be eventually laid to ensure they become thick wildlife habitats.
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The short term objectives during this plan period are:
- To continue to graze this habitat with approximately 90 sheep throughout the year. By 2013/14
introduce a small number of cattle (10-15) to replace the sheep to enable the scrub habitat to
develop.
- To establish 6ha of wild flower rich inoculation areas within the main sward spread across 8
similarly sized areas or patches and to maximise their visibility by placing them on the shallow
slopes within this habitat. Site preparation is to occur in autumn 2010 by cultivating the patches, and
then sowing in spring 2011 with an EM4 mixture (Meadow mixture for Clay Soil).
- Prevent continued establishment of noxious weeds, particularly ragwort through annual monitoring
and control if necessary.
- Establish in autumn 2011 25 individual or small clumps of oak trees across the northern and
southern parts of this habitat. Each clump to be protected from grazing animal damage by erecting
post and rail fencing.
- Maintain the 300m of hedge planted in 2010 alongside the multiuser path to ensure 90%
establishment success by replacing dead trees, and ensure the polypropylene photodegradable
plastic mulch provides an effective weed suppressant.
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5.4 Informal Public Access
Description
Victory Wood is classified by The Woodland Trust as a high priority site, where we are expecting a
high level of public access and a site which is important for demonstrating our corporate objectives.
Victory Wood has a good network of maintained permissive paths including a multiuser path for
horses, pedestrians and mountain bikes.
A full list of access points is given in Summary Description of Access Provision.
A site leaflet is available from the Dove Inn at Dargate and from the Canterbury Tourist Office. This
leaflet describes the main features to see on site which include interpretation structures linked to the
Battle of Trafalgar. These structures also provide the link between the use of trees and the
importance of woodland as a timber resource and for wildlife.
Information is also given on site by information boards: A Welcome information board is situated at
the car park along with a information board next to the Victory Copse about the construction of HMS
Victory; 2 information boards within the crow’s nest next to the footprint explain how the site will
eventually look and a detailed look at the Battle of Trafalgar and how it is depicted on site using
trees to represent ships.
Good views are to be had from the southern end of the site looking north towards the Thames
Estuary and south towards the Blean Woods National Nature Reserve.
Two “living sculptures” (Heart of Oak project) were created in 2009 on the ridge in sub-compartment
2a with the help of local schoolchildren from Blean Primary School and the Endowed School. Their
connection with the community will continue over the decades as they grow and evolve.
Significance
The site provides extensive access to an area which had no public access across it prior to
Woodland Trust ownership. There are extensive views within the site and out of the site north
across the Thames Estuary. It also enables wider access within the Blean, and provides the
opportunity through interpretation to promote the message of ancient woodland protection along
with linking/buffering by woodland creation.
Constraints:
The clay soil makes winter walking muddy and slippery on the well used paths.
Parts of the site are hilly which may preclude access in these areas for the less able.
The wooded part of the site is at the opposite end to the car park, so making for a long walk before
one reaches any woodland.
Opportunities:
This is a large woodland creation site with great potential to expand the current provision of public
access; to be able to use the land as a resource for education and public engagement; as a
demonstration site for our woodland management approach; as an opportunity to engage with the
public through woodland creation on a large scale; as a gateway site for people to explore the wider
Blean, through working with our neighbours and partners and through more promotion.
Antisocial behaviour and litter
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To provide access to woodland and open ground habitat in an environment which is safe and
aesthetically pleasing and with a view out of the site to see the wider countryside beyond.
During this plan period the short term objective is to continue to provide public access at Victory
Wood which is safe, enjoyable and educational. How this will be achieved:
- Selected paths will be maintained to allow continued access across the whole site for pedestrians
by mowing three times during the summer months including the Multi User Path. Horse access
along the Multi User Path will be permitted from April until the end of October each year- mountain
bike and pedestrian access to be all year round.
- Monitor the antisocial use of the car park and by regular removal of litter and fly tipped material.
Liaise with Kent Police to try and prevent antisocial behaviour from occurring at this site.
- Annual inspection of all gates and information boards and constant monitoring of path surfaces.
- Monitor the condition of the interpretation structures and repair as and when is necessary.
- Increase the visibility of the holm oak tree positions (representing the Spanish/French boat
positions) by bulking them up with small amounts of tree and shrub plantings.
- Design and install an information board about the Royal Observer Corps Underground Monitoring
Bunker by December 2012.
- Tree safety inspection to be carried out on Zones A and B and arboriculture work as required.
- Site leaflet to be available to promote Victory Wood at the Dove Inn at Dargate and at the
Canterbury Tourist Office.
- Community involvement in tree planting to be carried out through the Woodland Trust’s More
Trees More Good Project by inviting primary aged school children to take part in tree planting events
- one week in November and one week in March each year from 2011 to 2015.
- Raise woodland awareness amongst children by holding one week of Discovery events each year
during the spring or summer months from 2011 to 2015.
- Ensure successful establishment by 2012 of all the trees in the 2 Heart of Oak living sculptures
project.
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6.0 WORK PROGRAMME
Year
Type of Work
2012 LC - Routine Litter Picks
2012 WC - Tree Planting / Seeding
Description
To emptying of dog litter bin near car
park at Victory Wood @ £35.75 + vat
per month. Week commencing January:
2, 9, 16, 23, 30.
per month.
Week commencing February: 6, 13, 20,
27.
Feb 20th - 24th: MTMG planting event
tree and straw supply, marking out and
planting trees due to cancelled event see notes for details.
Cpt.4c: Supply and plant woody shrubs
to form the woodland edges of the
woodland blocks - see notes for more
details. (Can be done in February if you
want).
• Carryout a beatup count and replace
any dead trees within T4A areas
planted since Nov'07 - March'09.
• Supply and lay straw mulch "slabs"
either side of the 35 Heart of oak trees
in avenue and ring features and around
the 'Windsor oak' (down the hill f
Victory Copse:
• Replace dead beech trees in the
Victory Copse with 60-90cm sized
plants.
• Fell and treat stumps with Glyphosate
all 5 Italian Alder trees and take
arisings off site. These will be marked
with orange paint!
• Replant with 5no 60-90cm Com
per month.
Week commencing March: 5, 12, 19,
26.
19
Due By
30/01/12
28/02/12
28/02/12
28/02/12
31/03/12
31/03/12
31/03/12
Victory Wood
2012 AW - Management Access
Maintenance
2012 WC - Fencing
2012 AW - Visitor Access Maintenance
2012 CS - Planning Permissions / Designs
2012 WC - Tree Weeding / Fertilising
2012 AW - Management Access Capital
Quatertly electricity contribution to
Lamberhurst Farm for operating the
automatic barrier.
To install 3 new badger gates into the
perimeter fence of cpt.4c as per
attached map.
April path cut - see notes
31/03/12
park at Victory Wood.
Week commencing April: 2, 9, 16, 23,
30
Planning Permission fee for access
bridge.
May path cut - see notes
30/04/12
Application of herbicide to:
• Weeds growing in the mulched area
of Victory Copse
• Around the base of the Nelson
sculpture
• Around the Mayor’s tree
• Grass growing on the car park
particularly around the edges over the
oak sleepers.
• Weeds growing
To spot application a 1 metre diameter
circle of roundup to T4A areas planted
since Nov'07 - March'09 (approximately
1400 trees).
Week commencing May: 7, 14, 21, 28.
To purchase from Centrewire a
Woodstock "Pedestrian" galvanised
metal kissing gate - self closing with
meshed hoops;
To remove existing stile and take off
site and install kissing gate in its place
within fenceline beside existing 3.6m
wooden access gate from cpt.2b onto
Multi User Path – see attached map.
29/05/12
20
31/03/12
24/04/12
30/04/12
29/05/12
31/05/12
31/05/12
31/05/12
Victory Wood
To supply and install a stile kit and dog 31/05/12
flap (similar to Centrewire’s “Icknield
and Dogway kit”) into new stock fence.
Attach rabbit netting to stile steps.
To supply and install a self closing
weight and rope to kissing gate recently
installed off the main hard track.
To supply and install large stones to
block up old car park entrance.
June path cut - see notes
26/06/12
30/06/12
Week commencing June: 4, 11, 18, 25.
A5 leaflet dispensers - paid by WT
Credit Card by WOPS Admin Team
Management works carried out by
RSPB as per Management Plan and in
accordance with Lease Agreement.
automatic barrier.
Week commencing July: 2, 9, 16, 23,
30.
Control of ragwort within grazing and
woodland creation areas through hand
cutting.
July path cuts - see notes.
August path cut - see notes
28/08/12
Plot strimming of T4A areas planted
since Nov'07 - March'09 (approximately
1400 trees).
Plot strimming of whole MTMG area
(0.3ha) and woody shrub edges
(1.26ha).
Week commencing August: 6, 13, 20
27.
Mow approximately 10ha of grassland
in cpt.4c and 4d - see map.
September path cut - see notes
28/08/12
2012 WMM - General Site Management
Maintenance
2012 WC - Invasive Plant Control
2012 LC - Hazardous Waste
2012 WC - Invasive Plant Control
21
30/06/12
30/06/12
30/06/12
31/07/12
31/07/12
31/07/12
31/08/12
31/08/12
31/08/12
25/09/12
Victory Wood
2012 WC - Site Maintenance
2012 PE - Interpretation & Signage
2012 LC - Hazardous Waste
Maintenance
2012 SL - Routine Safety Work
Mowing of wide ride habitat in
secondary woodland area (10ha). Only
cut 50% of the area in each year (5ha) see Map 2.
To supply timbers and Install A1
information board on ROC bunker near
to bunker location.
Printing costs for ROC bunker
information board - moved to 2013.
Week commencing September: 3, 10,
17, 24.
of Victory Copse
sculpture
oak sleepers.
• Weeds growing
automatic barrier for period 12/6/12 8/9/12
Emergency repairs to ROC
underground bunker to make safe
access "lid" to shaft.
22
25/09/12
30/09/12
30/09/12
30/09/12
30/09/12
30/09/12
30/09/12
Victory Wood
Maintenance
28 SFC Victory
To supply and deliver all materials,
machinery, labour to:
• Construct a wooden barrier edging
(approx.130m) along the western side
of the Lamberhurst Farm access road
through WT land from the Automatic
barrier to our boundary as shown on
the attached map.
• Barrier to be a single line of old
(recycled) telegraph poles, or similar
straight lengths of cut chestnut timber
of 7”-8” dia laid end to end, positioned
on the grassy verge/tarmac boundary.
• Poles to be held in place at each end
of each length by securing to a driven in
half round post on the field side of the
poles. Secure by plain line wire lashed
around pole and post and nailed by
galvanised staples
OR attached using Timberlok
screws or equivalent driven through the
post into the pole length.
• To tidy up any rutting along the verge
edge caused by vehicles running off the
road by levelling out and making good.
23
30/09/12
Victory Wood
2012 PE - Events - Tree Planting
2012 PE - Events - Contractor/Provider
2012 PE - Informal Play
• Fill in holes in the car park surface just 30/09/12
by barrier entrance
• Supply and spread over the Victory
Copse in the “tree areas” approximately
3-4 loads of wood chip mulch. Ensure
plastic mulch layer around the edge of
the Copse is buried. Remove plastic
mulch from under
the path beside the Copse
and spread mulch along its route.
• Cut back the group of hawthorn in
hedge where it is over topping the field
oak nearest to the car park in the field.
• Remove all the timber samples from
the Victory Footprint posts and return to
Site Manager.
To carryout access improvements /
maintenance as per attached sheet to:
• Stile off Dargate Road
• Kissing gate off Multi User Path near
Windsock
• Access gate off Multi User path near
Windsock
Week commencing October: 1, 8, 15,
22, 29.
Week commencing November: 5, 12,
19, 26.
Trim roadside and top of hedge along
Dargate Road.
MTMG planting event tree supply and
preparation - see notes for details
Hire of event toilet
30/10/12
27/11/12
27/11/12
30/11/12
30/11/12
Event provider costs for school planting 30/11/12
week 5-9th November 2012.
MTMG travel bursary for planting event. 31/12/12
Week commencing December: 3, 10,
17, 24, 31.
24
31/12/12
Victory Wood
Maintenance
2012 SL - Emergency Safety Works
Maintenance
automatic barrier.
To attach stock netting either side of
culvert crossing point H9 to prevent the
public and livestock using it as
requested.
automatic barrier.
To hire of event toilet at Victory Wood
car park from 9.30am on 4th March to
3pm on 8th March as per your
quotation of 15/2/13 (TMP064986).
Entrance to the car park has a height
barrier which can open. The padlock
will be unlocked but the barrier will be
shut but the driver will be able to open
the barrier.
Event Provider costs for Children's tree
planting event at Victory Wood 4th - 8th
March '13, 3 sessions per day at 9.30 to
11.00, 11.15 to 12.45 and 1.00 to 2.30,
1st session on the Monday morning
reserved for set up.
Children's planting event tree and straw
supply, marking out, supply of trees and
checking of planting - see notes for
details.
25
31/12/12
31/12/12
31/01/13
31/01/13
28/02/13
31/03/13
31/03/13
31/03/13
31/03/13
Victory Wood
To supply 13,000 trees as per your
quotation no: THEO 1211/01 of
27/11/12.
31/03/13
Delivery to: Sovereign Forestry
Contractors, Lodge Hill, Crouch Lane,
Sandhurst, Kent, TN18 5PD. Please
contact them for a suitable delivery date
in early March 2013 - tel: 07785
342085.
Maintenance
Maintenance
All trees and shrubs should be as
specified on your quotation for
numbers, size, provenance zone and
UK grown. A provenance certificate will
be required for this order.
To supply and construct approximately 31/03/13
65m of rustic (2 rail) post and rail
fencing in the car park area - see map
1c for details.
To supply and plant 65 trees within the 31/03/13
car park area and Victory Copse - see
notes for more details.
Re stake/ straighten up trees within
Victory Copse.
To supply straw mulch for 10,300 trees. 31/03/13
To plant 10,300 trees and shrubs in
cpt.4c and 4d - all trees and shrubs
being supplied by the Woodland Trust.
See notes for more details
To lay straw mulch around 10,300 trees
- see notes for more details.
automatic barrier.
26
31/03/13
31/03/13
31/03/13
30/04/13
Victory Wood
2013 SL - Routine Safety Work
To demolish crossing point H9. To re
build a new culvert crossing by
installing a 5m long plastic corrugated
pipe approximately 30-40cm in
diameter. Pipe to be covered by sub
soil and topped with a 100mm layer of
compacted Type 1 stone over a layer of
geotextile material. Post and rail
fencing either side to be re installed if
dismantled.
of Victory Copse
sculpture
• Around the 35no hawthorn on the
new bund across old car park access
route
oak sleepers
• Weeds growing on the surfaced
wheelchair route from the car park
kissing gate to the 'Foot Print'
• Around the field oak next to the car
park
• Around the 60no new trees in the car
park/Copse area
To deliver a Discovery Day for the
general public at Victory Wood on
Friday May 31st 2013 as per your
quotation of 9/1/13. This is part of a
wider Blean engagement event by
partner organisations during the week
27th - 31st May in The Blean complex
of woodlands.
27
30/04/13
30/04/13
31/05/13
31/05/13
31/05/13
Victory Wood
Maintenance
To re surface wheelchair route from car 31/05/13
park to Victory Footprint by: Using a
360 rake over the top surface and add
more of the surface layer (10 mm to
dust of Type1) to ensure a consistent
depth of 25mm across its width.
Consolidate by rolling/compacting.
31/05/13
30/06/13
To provide a week of Discovery Events
for primary aged children at Victory
Wood and to use on site educational
resources during week 3rd – 7th June
as per your quotation of 9/1/13.
automatic barrier.
To hire of event toilet at Victory Wood
car park from 9.30am on 31st May to
3pm on 7th June as per your quotation
of 15/2/13 (TMP064987). Entrance to
the car park has a height barrier which
can open. The padlock will be unlocked
but the barrier will be shut but the driver
will be able to open the barrier.
Travel Bursary for Children's tree
planting event.
Travel Bursary for Children's Discovery
event.
30/06/13
Maintenance of stock fencing as
required
31/07/13
Cpts.4c and 4d - Inter row mowing
between all rows of trees planted in
2012 and 2013 (approx. 13,950
trees/shrubs).
31/08/13
Maintenance
2013 PE - Events - Schools
2013 NWH - Maintenance Work
28
30/06/13
30/06/13
30/06/13
30/06/13
31/07/13
31/07/13
31/07/13
31/08/13
31/08/13
Victory Wood
Maintenance
2013 WC - Fencing
of Victory Copse
sculpture
route
oak sleepers
park
park/Copse area
automatic barrier.
to bunker location.
30/09/13
30/09/13
30/09/13
30/09/13
30/09/13
30/09/13
30/09/13
information board.
u
31/10/13
31/10/13
To supply and attach stock netting to
30/11/13
the 20no individual post and rail corrals.
29
Victory Wood
2013 WC - Fencing
Compartment 7b:
30/11/13
To supply and construct high tensile
stock proof fence as per EMC
specifications 3.6 and 3.13. Deviations
to this specification:
- winter cut sweet chestnut timbers to
be used
- intermediate fence post spacing to be
a maximum of 2.5m
Lengths given are approximate:
Cpt.7b: 130 metres
The boundaries to compartment 7b will
be marked out prior to work starting but
are indicated by the red dashed lines
on the attached map.
To supply the following trees and
30/11/13
shrubs - all UK grown; UK provenance
400 zone; 40-60cm bare root in
November 2013:
Trees:
sessile oak: 1700
hornbeam: 1100
common alder: 900
field maple: 600
downy birch: 1100
Woody shrubs:
hawthorn: 600
blackthorn: 250
guelder rose: 150
wild service: 400
field rose: 100
dogwood: 150
Delivery address:
Sovereign Forestry Contractors
Lodge Hill
Crouch Lane
Sandhurst
Kent
TN18 5PD
30
Victory Wood
2013 WC - Fencing
Compartment 7c:
30/11/13
be used
a maximum of 2.5m
Cpt.7c: 980 metres
2013 WC - Fencing
The boundaries to compartment 7c will
Compartment 7d:
30/11/13
be used
a maximum of 2.5m
Cpt.7d: 460 metres
2013 WC - Fencing
The boundaries to compartment 7d will
To supply and construct 4no 2 step
30/11/13
stiles to go at either end of cpts.7c and
7d as per EMC spec.1.5. Fix rabbit
netting to steps of stiles for extra grip.
31
Victory Wood
To plant the following trees and shrubs 30/11/13
- 40-60cm bare root in November 2013
in compartments 7c and 7d:
Trees @ 2.5m x 2.5m spacing in
sinuous rows:
sessile oak: 1700
hornbeam: 1100
common alder: 900
field maple: 600
downy birch: 1100
Woody shrubs @ 2.0mx2.0m spacing
along edge of planting blocks:
hawthorn: 600
blackthorn: 250
guelder rose: 150
wild service: 400
field rose: 100
dogwood: 150
2013 WC - Fencing
Delivery address:
Trees and woody shrubs to be
delivered to your house/yard
Compartment 7c:
To supply and attach high tensile rabbit
netting to new stock fence as per EMC
specification 3.8:
Cpt.7c: 980 metres
The boundaries to compartment 7c will
32
30/11/13
Victory Wood
2013 WC - Fencing
Compartment 7d:
30/11/13
netting to new stock fence as per EMC
specification 3.8:
Cpt.7d: 460 metres
netting to existing stock fence (along
the existing edge of the field beside the
hedge) as per EMC specification 3.8:
Cpt.7d 390 metres
2013 WC - Tree / Seed Supply
The boundaries to compartment 7d will
To supply and plant beat ups during
30/11/13
November/December at Victory Wood,
all 40-60cm size bare root:
New planting around the car park:
• 1 x holm oak, 3 x small leaved lime, 5
x wild cherry, 10 x pedunculate oak, 3 x
wild service tree, 3 x downy birch.
Victory Copse:
• To remove all dead trees, and
guards/stakes etc off site
2013 WC - Fencing
Cpt. 4d/4c (all areas planted):
• 550 x sessile oak
• 100 x hawthorn (woody shrub edges)
• 50 x wild service tree (woody shrub
edges)
Dargate Road.
To supply and construct 20no individual
post and rail corrals, and plant 40
individual oak trees - see notes for
detials.
park at Victory Wood. (Lump sum for
the year.)
33
30/11/13
30/11/13
30/11/13
31/12/13
Victory Wood
2013 WC - Fencing
Maintenance
2013 WC - Fencing
Supply and construct post and wire
stock fence corrals around each of the
8 Holm oak positions and plant woody
shrubs as per details in notes.
automatic barrier.
1. To make good hole in rabbit fence
beside style from ancient woodland into
woodland creation area.
2. To reinstate barbed wire which has
been cut next to kissing gate from
woodland creation area on path (near
the culvert crossing) and re-attach
weight which has had its chain cut.
park at Victory Wood as per your
quotation of 25/2/14 contract no: SC008
@ £39.63/month +VAT.
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
34
31/12/13
31/12/13
31/12/13
31/12/13
31/01/14
28/02/14
31/03/14
Victory Wood
To supply and plant 530m of hedge
31/03/14
along fence beside air strip as follows
(2650 trees) as shown on map:
Brushcut bramble on non woodland
trust land (on other side of the fence) to
cut back bramble stems growing
through perimeter fence;
Herbicide with glyphosate a 1 metre
wide strip on Woodland Trust side of
perimeter fence and adjacent to fence
where hedge is to be planted;
Supply and install a 1 metre wide strip
of Spun-bonded Polypropylene
photodegradable plastic mulch (from
Acorn Planting Products) and anchor it
by digging the edges into the ground;
Plant a double staggered row at 5
plants per metre through the mulch strip
with the following: Species (all 6090cm br)
250 Acer campestre Field maple
225 Carpinus betulus hornbeam
1200 Crataegus monogyna common
hawthorn
350 Prunus spinosa blackthorn
50 viburnum opulus guilder rose
75 Rosa arvensis Field rose
400 Sorbus torminalis wild service tree
100 Quercus robur pedunculate oak
Spread the species out along the
hedgerow with single species groups of
15-20 plants for the major species and
5-10 plants for the minor species (like
rose).
Oak to be as a single plant spread
along the hedgerow. Supply and install
a clear 60cm spiral guard supported by
a 90cm bamboo cane around each
plant.
Maintenance
All plants to be UK grown and UK
provenance 400. NB provenance
certificates to be supplied with invoice
or before.
automatic barrier.
35
31/03/14
Victory Wood
Maintenance
30/04/14
To top up with more Type 1 stone
30/04/14
finishing with surface dressing of 25
mm to dust and consolidate the ground
surface within all 6 kissing gates on
site. The amount of stone in each
kissing gate will vary due to how much
has been washed/walked away,
however there needs to be
approximately 60-70mm of Type 1 plus
20-30mm of 25mm to dust.
30/04/14
April 2014
36
Victory Wood
2014 LC - Fly Tipping
To install 2no new Woodland Trust VIP 30/04/14
welcome signs as per specification
given below by 30th April 2013.
A. One to replace the existing Ladder
Board Sign at the Dargate Road
junction which is to be removed off site.
B. One to replace the position of the
Trafalgar Woods ladder Board at the
entrance off Lamberhurst Farm access
road. This Trafalgar Woods board to be
re installed beside the information
board by the kissing gate off the car
park, however it needs to be taken to
Highweald Furniture Ltd to be
refurbished first.
C.
To remove ladderboard sign
at Denstroude Lane entrance and take
to highweald Furniture Ltd to be
refurbished, and then re installed at the
same place.
TIMBER
• 4” square kiln dried oak is the
preferred material
• Danish oiled all elements prior to
installation.
• Construction of the posts - “rout” a
channel from the top of the posts to the
depth of the panel.
• Then a cross beam drilled and coach
bolted would be routed to take the
bottom of the panel.
• Apply a silicon seal along this to
ensure water etc would be repelled
• The construction could be done at
floor level if required before erection.
To supply and place straw mulch (1
30/04/14
slab each side) of:
• new planting in cpts.7c and 7d
totalling 7050 positions.
• 40 oak trees in new corrals
• 152 plants in extended holm oak
corrals
To remove flytipped material from WT 30/04/14
car park.
37
Victory Wood
31/05/14
to bunker location.
May 2014
Zero'd down as this does not fit in with
strategic schools work for 2014.
Zero'd down as this does not fit in with
of Victory Copse
sculpture
route
oak sleepers
park
park/Copse area
30/06/14
Zero'd down as this does not fit in with 30/06/14
30/06/14
automatic barrier.
30/06/14
June 2014
Maintenance
38
31/05/14
31/05/14
31/05/14
31/05/14
31/05/14
Victory Wood
31/07/14
July 2014
information board.
Maintenance of stock fencing as
required
31/08/14
August 2014
Inter row mowing costs for new planting
in cpts.4c, 4d, 7c, 7d.
Application of herbicide to: • Weeds
growing in the mulched area of Victory
Copse • Around the base of the Nelson
sculpture • Around the Mayor’s tree •
Around the 35no hawthorn on the new
bund across old car park access route •
Grass growing on the car park
oak sleepers • Weeds growing on the
surfaced wheelchair route from the car
park kissing gate to the 'Foot Print' •
Around the field oak next to the car park
park/Copse area
automatic barrier.
September 2014
31/08/14
2014 NWH - Maintenance Work
Maintenance
39
31/07/14
31/07/14
31/07/14
31/08/14
30/09/14
30/09/14
30/09/14
30/09/14
30/09/14
Victory Wood
2014 WC - Tree / Seed Supply
Maintenance
October 2014
November 2014
Dargate Road.
Beating up costs for cpts.4c, 4d, 7c and
7d.
automatic barrier.
December 2014
40
31/10/14
30/11/14
30/11/14
30/11/14
31/12/14
31/12/14
Victory Wood
APPENDIX 1: COMPARTMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Cpt
No.
Area
(ha)
Main
Year
Species
Management
Regime
Major
Management
Constraints
Key Features
Present
Designations
1a
7.07 Mixed
1900 High forest
Very steep
Informal Public Ancient Semi
native
slope/cliff/quarry/ Access
Natural
broadlea
mine shafts/sink
Woodland
ves
holes etc
Area of ancient semi-natural woodland which most closely resembles NVC W10a woodland.This
sub-compartment is situated on the extreme south west of Victory Wood and used to be continuous
with Blean Wood which is now situated on the western side of the public road to Dargate. The
woodland is steeply sloping down to the west, with no formal management access point.The trees
were coppiced probably during the 1950's and now the tree canopy is formed of coppice poles of
sessile oak with some beech. There are no veteran trees here and neither are there any standard
trees. Much of the surface of the woodland is devoid of ground vegetation perhaps due to the acidic
conditions and shading effect of beech.There is ample evidence of old tracks and paths through this
small area of woodland. An historical survey of old maps shows an old route from Dargate which ran
east-west through the wood and onto the woodland creation area leading to Denstroude Corner at
the southern tip of Ellenden Wood. There are 2 main pedestrian pathways which are in use, one
leading east-west from the pedestrian access point on Dargate Road near the northern end and the
other runs north-south approximately in the middle of the wood.
1b
0.39 Mixed
1900 High forest
Very steep
Informal Public
native
slope/cliff/quarry/ Access
broadlea
mine shafts/sink
ves
holes etc
This small triangular shaped woodland is referred to historically as Bushy Close. It is actually a
piece of secondary woodland with trees dating from 1898 growing there. Its name of "Bushy Close"
comes from the 1876 map of Lamberhurst Farm and suggests that it was always a rough
unproductive field. It sits on the northern side of a ditch which formed the parish boundary between 2
civil parishes. Along the ditch edge of the wood are some interesting old hornbeam specimens
which once formed part of the boundary hedge. It now sits surrounded by open grass land.
The woodland closely resembles NVC 8a: Primula vulgaris – Glechoma sub-community, and
although it can be dated as secondary woodland it does contain some ground flora which is similar
to that of ancient woodland.
2a
82.49 Mixed
2005 High forest
native
broadlea
ves
Mostly wet
Informal Public
ground/exposed Access
site, No/poor
vehicular access
to the site
41
Victory Wood
Secondary woodland planted between 2005 and 2008 to a "new native woodland" design. This
involves establishing trees and shrubs at random spacing in variable sized single species groups
with significant areas left as open ground between these groups. This has resulted in small groups
of planted / wooded areas interspersed with open unplanted areas. A conservation wide ride
(10.0ha) passes through the secondary woodland and the woodland edges to this ride have been
planted with a specific ride edge woody shrub mixture. Species were planted to represent as close
to an NVC type as possible, mainly W10 woodland (oak, hornbeam) with a small area of W8
woodland (ash, field maple) along the north east edge. Average density of the planted areas is 2500
trees per hectare in the middle of the sub compartment with spacing widening to reduce the density
to approximately 1600 trees per hectare near the edges of Ellenden and Blean Wood to allow
additional space for natural regeneration to develop.Unplanted areas have been immediately
adjacent to the ancient woodland edges of varying distance to be filled in by natural regeneration.
Small groups of planted trees and shrubs have also been established in this zone to provide wildlife
staging posts, to encourage wildlife to move out from the existing wooded areas.A Royal Observer
Corps Underground Monitoring Bunker from the cold war era is situated on top of the main ridge
through this sub-compartment. This structure is not open to the public.The 2 Heart of Oak living
sculptures are situated on the ridge top within this sub-compartment.
2b
13.37 Mixed
2015 High forest
native
broadlea
ves
Mostly wet
Informal Public
site, No/poor
vehicular access
to the site
Area currently grazed but to be converted to a mixture of secondary woodland and open ground
between 2011 and 2015.
3a
37.61
Mostly wet
Informal Public
site, No/poor
vehicular access
to the site
Main grazing area sown with rye/cocksfoot/timothy/wild red clover grass mixture in autumn 2006
with wild flower inoculation patches spread scattered across this area. Scattered across this area
are individual and small clumps of trees established since 2006. Significant parts of the
interpretation structures are situated within this sub-compartment.
Many of the perimeter boundaries now have hedges growing along them established between 2007
and 2010.
Near to the southern boundary of this sub-compartment runs a deep drainage ditch called Hawkins
Hill Ditch which is up to 1.5-2.0 metres deep and flows (from north to south) after significant rainfall
in the winter and spring months, but for most of the summer it is dry. The ditch is covered by
bramble, trees and shrubs and provides a wooded connection across the site between the 2 woods
of Blean and Ellenden. The ditch exits from our land into Ellenden Wood, and near this point is a
small pond formed by a basic dam across the ditch. Within this pond is a specimen of Almond
Willow (Salix triandra), which is very scarce in Kent.
An additional pond or wetland area was established adjacent to Hawkins Hill Ditch in 2008.
42
Victory Wood
GLOSSARY
Ancient Woodland
Ancient woods are defined as those where there has been continuous woodland cover since at least
1600 AD. In Scotland ancient woods are defined strictly as sites shown as semi-natural woodland
on the ‘Roy’ maps (a military survey carried out in 1750 AD, which is the best source of historical
map evidence) and as woodland all subsequent maps. However, they have been combined with
long-established woods of semi-natural origin (originating from between 1750 and 1860) into a
single category of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland to take account of uncertainties in their
identification. Ancient woods include Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland and plantations on Ancient
Woodland Sites (see below). May support many species that are only found in ancient woodland.
Ancient Semi - Natural Woodland
Stands in ancient woods defined as those consisting predominantly of native trees and shrubs that
have not obviously been planted, which have arisen from natural regeneration or coppice regrowth.
Ancient Woodland Site
Stands in ancient woods that have been converted to plantations, of coniferous, broadleaved or
mixed species, usually for timber production, including plantations of native species planted so
closely together that any semi-natural elements of the understorey have been suppressed.
Beating Up
Replacing any newly planted trees that have died in the first few years after planting.
Broadleaf
A tree having broad leaves (such as oak) rather than needles found on conifers (such as Scots
pine).
Canopy
The uppermost layer of vegetation in a woodland, or the upper foliage and branches of an individual
tree.
Clearfell
Felling of all trees within a defined area.
Compartment
Permanent management division of a woodland, usually defined on site by permanent features such
as roads. See Sub-compartments.
Conifer
A tree having needles, rather than broadleaves, and typically bearing cones.
Continuous Cover forestry
43
Victory Wood
A term used for managing woods to ensure that there are groups or individual trees of different
ages scattered over the whole wood and that some mature tree cover is always maintained.
Management is by repeated thinning and no large areas are ever completely felled all at once.
Coppice
Trees which are cut back to ground levels at regular intervals (3-25 years).
Exotic (non-native) Species
Species originating from other countries (or other parts of the UK) that have been introduced by
humans, deliberately or accidentally.
Field Layer
Layer of small, non-woody herbaceous plants such as bluebells.
Group Fell
The felling of a small group of trees, often to promote natural regeneration or allow planting.
Long Term Retention
Discrete groups of trees (or in some cases single trees) that are retained significantly past their
economic felling age. Operations may still be carried out within them and thinning is often necessary
to maintain stability.
Minimum Intervention
Areas where no operations (such as thinning) will take place other than to protect public safety or
possibly to control invasive exotic species.
Mixed Woodland
Woodland made up of broadleaved and coniferous trees.
National vegetation classification (NVC)
A classification scheme that allows an area of vegetation to be assigned to the standardised type
that best matches the combination of plant species that it contains. All woodlands in the UK can be
described as being one of 18 main woodland types (W1 - W18), which principally reflect soil and
climatic conditions. For example, Upland Oakwoods are type W11, and normally occur on well
drained infertile soils in the cooler and wetter north and west of Britain. Each main type can be
subdivided into numerous subtypes. Most real woods contain more than one type or sub-type and
inevitably some woods are intermediate in character and can't be properly described by any sub
type.
Native Species
Species that arrived in Britain without human assistance.
Natural Regeneration
Naturally grown trees from seeds falling from mature trees. Also regeneration from coppicing and
suckering.
44
Victory Wood
Origin & Provenance
The provenance of a tree or seed is the place where seed was collected to grow the tree or plant.
The origin is the geographical location within the natural range of a species from where seeds/tree
originally derives. Thus an acorn collected from a Turkey oak in Edinburgh would have an Edinburgh
provenance and a southern European origin.
Re-Stocking
Re-planting an area of woodland, after it has been felled.
Shrub Layer
Formed by woody plants 1-10m tall.
Silviculture
The growing and care of trees in woodlands.
Stand
Trees of one type or species, grouped together within a woodland.
Sub-Compartment
Temporary management division of a compartment, which may change between management plan
periods.
Thinning
The felling of a proportion of individual trees within a given area. The remaining trees grow to fill in
the space created.
Tubex or Grow or Tuley Tubes
Tubes placed over newly planted trees or natural regeneration that promote growth and provide
protection from animals such as rabbits and deer.
Weeding
The control of vegetation immediately around newly planted trees or natural regeneration to promote
tree growth until they become established. Either by hand cutting or with carefully selected weed
killers such as glyphosate.
Windblow/Windthrow
Trees or groups of trees blown over (usually uprooted) by strong winds and gales.
The Woodland Trust, Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL.
The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales no. 294344 and in Scotland no. SC038885.
A non-profit making company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 1982873. The Woodland Trust logo is a
registered trademark.
45

Management Plan - The Woodland Trust

Transcription

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