Robin & Repton Forest Plan 2016 2026 - Forestry Commission · OS Grid Reference: Robin Wood SK...

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Robin & Repton Forest

Plan 2016-2026

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Robin & Repton Forest Plan 2016-2026

Forestry Operations 2016 to 2026

Summary

The Robin and Repton Forest Plan (FP) summaries proposals by the Forestry Commission

for the management of five woodlands, Robin Wood (98.1ha), Repton Shrubs (83.4ha),

Hartshorne Wood (31.7ha), Poppy Wood (26.6ha) and Stanton by Bridge Woodland

(19.2ha) which lie in The National Forest, South Derbyshire. The plan area of 259ha lies

between 10km south of Derby, 7km east of Burton on Trent and have easy access from both

the M1 and A38.

The Robin and Repton are largely dominated by productive mature conifer forest with

Hartshorne and Poppy Wood being new woodlands recently planted with mixed hardwoods

and Stanton by Bridge ex-acgricultural land due to be planted in 2016. The management

plans objectives will be to continue to grow commercial crops on a sustainable basis,

diversify the forest structure through harvesting operations, conserve ancient woodland

features, increase the number of deadwood habitat and Trees of Special interest, improve

the value of the woodlands for butterflies and visitors.

The principal ecological interest in the plan are some of the remenant ancient woodland

features, new and emerging woodland habitats and fauna associated with it. The FP will

help to develop a more diverse woodland structure through active forest management. This

will be achieved specifically through the retention of some strands of trees in perpetuity, the

development of mixed open stands along water courses, restoration of semi-natural

woodland and increased length of woodland edge habitat. Recent felling operations have

already begun to increase the available nesting site for birds.

Woodland Name Grid Reference Total Area (ha)

Felling (ha) Restocking, Nat-ural Regenera-tion & Enrich-ment planting

Open Space

Robin Wood SK 3600 2550 98.1 11.5 10.5

Repton Shrubs SK 31572340 83.4 9.4 8.1

Hartshorne SK 32622180 31.7 1.5

Poppy Wood SK 37192595 26.6 1

Stanton by SK 36462548 19.2 18 1.2

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Maps

Location Map 13

Recreation and Access 15

Survey Details 16 & 17

Current Species 18

Elevation Map 19

Concept Map 20 & 21

Silvicultural Systems Robin, Poppy &

Stanton by Bridge 23

Felling Periods for Robin, Poppy &


Intended Landuse for Systems Robin, Poppy &


Silvicultural Systems Map – Repton & Hartshorne 27

Felling Map – Repton & Hartshorne 28

Intended Land Use – Repton & Hartshorne 29

Appendix I—Forest Plan Brief 30

Appendix II—Glossary 31

Landscape Perspectives 33

Central Forest District - Bagots Forest Plan (FP)

Contents: Page No.

Summary 1

What are Forest Plans? 3

A Application for Forest Plan Approval

1. Introduction 4

Fig 1 Forestry Commission England’s Planning Strategy

1.1 Robin and Repton FP – Survey Data 5

Fig.2 Age Structure

2. Management Objectives 6

3.0 Forest Plan Objectives

3.1 Woodland

Fig.3 Current Species within Robin and Repton FP 7

Table.1 Current Species

3.2 Environmental

3.2.1 Harvesting

Fig.4 Production Forecasts

3.3 Social 8

3.4 Restocking and Future Management

3.4.1 Habitat Management 9

Table.2 Future Species Composition – 2066

Fig.5 Future Forest Structure

4. Meeting and Monitoring Management Objectives 10

5. 2016 Forest Plan comparison against the 2003 Forest Plan 11

6. Consultees 12

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A Application for Forest Plan Approval

i Plan Area Identification:

Forest District: Central Forest District

Beat: National Forest

Name: Robin and Repton Forest Plan

Nearest Town: Burton on Trent

OS Grid Reference: Robin Wood SK 36002550

Repton Shrubs SK 31572340

Poppy Wood SK 37192595

Hartshorne SK 32622180

Stanton by Bridge SK 36462548

Local Planning Authority South Derbyshire

ii Designations:

Ancient Woodland Site (AWS)*, Plantation on an Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS)*, Secondary Woodland*, National Forest Community Woodland and lies within the Natural Character Area*, Profile No.70. Melbourne Parklands.

iii Date of Commencement of Plan

As soon as possible once approved.

* NB The 8ha refers to the net area of felling that will take place within the next 10 years

1. What are Forest Plans?

Forest Plans are produced by us, the Forestry Commission (FC), as a means of

communicating our management intentions to a range of stakeholders. They aim to fulfil a

number of objectives:

• To provide descriptions of our woodlands to show what they are like now.

• To explain the process we go through in deciding what is best for the woodlands’ long-term

future.

• To show what we intend the woodlands to look like in the future.

• To detail our management proposals, for the first ten years so we can seek approval from

the statutory regulators.

Our aim is to produce a plan that meets your needs for the woodland; meets the needs of

the plants and animals that live there and meets our needs as managers.

We have produced this draft plan to illustrate our management proposals thereby creating

an opportunity for you to comment on the plan, whether you are a user, a neighbour or a

member of one of the many stakeholder groups that have an interest in the woodlands.

Information on how to get your comments to us is on our webpage.

This plan does not set out the detailed yearly management operations for each small piece

of a wood, known as a coupe*. It is not possible to say which year a particular operation will

take place, but we can say in which five-year period it should happen.

All tree felling in the UK is regulated and a licence is required before trees can be felled; the

scale of tree felling in Central England Forest District, which this plan forms part of, is such

that the Forest Plan is the best mechanism for applying for this licence.

Responsibility for checking that the plan meets all the relevant standards and statutes lies

with another part of the FC (Forest Services). If all the criteria are met, full approval is given

for the management operations in the first ten years (2016 - 2026) and outline approval for

the medium term vision (2026 - 2066). The plan will be reviewed after the first five years

(2021) to assess if the objectives are being achieved.

We use some technical words and phrases in the text because they best describe what we

are doing. There is a glossary at the back of the plan with some commonly used technical

forestry terms and abbreviations. These technical words are identified with an *.

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Fig 1. Forestry Commission England’s Planning Strategy

Total clear fell area 18.7ha

Forest Plan maps are attached

I apply for Forest Plan approval for the area described above and in the enclosed Forest Plan.

I undertake to obtain any permission necessary for the implementation of the approved plan.

Signed …………………………… Approved …………………………

FDM

District …..……………………….. Conservancy ……………………….

Date …………………………… Date …………………………

1. Introduction

This Forest Plan (FP) is updating an older plan prepared in 2003 and provides approval for

felling and restocking over the next 10 years and sets out our management proposals for the

next fifty years. FP’s are operational plans and although they do take into account the

presence of social and environmental features, their management will be dealt with in

separate documentation.

This FP is guided and directed by a number of policies and strategies - the main documents

are summarised in Fig.1. Delivering this plan will require the Forestry Commission (FC) to

be responsive to shifts in our operating environment and increasingly flexible in our

approach, and to sustain this responsiveness over decades to come.

Protecting and Expanding England’s Forests and Woodlands and Increasing their

Value to Society and the Environment

National Forest Policy

The FC sets out its vision and aims for For-

estry in England at a national level. This is

outlined in the Strategic Plan for the Public

Forest District Strategic Plan

The District Strategic plan sits between the

national and local planning levels and sup-

ports the aims and objectives within the

districts, according to the FE England Na-

tional Policy and gives direction for the

Forest Plans

Forest Plans are used by the FC to demon-strate sustainable forest management on the public estate in the long term and to define a 10 year programme of approved work. They explain how a local area of forest will be managed and why and is pro-duced in consultation with internal and external stakeholders, and following

Operational Site Plans (Ops 1’s)

Management plan for specific operations

on site, undertaken in accordance with the

above and by following national guidance

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The woodlands all lie within The National Forest and are used on a daily basis by locals.

The only formal public facilities are at Poppy Wood where a small public car park,

waymarked trail with interpretation and art work attracts the greatest number of visitors.

Mature stands of Corsican pine dominate Robin and Repton woodlands with some Scots

pine and small blocks of broadleaves present. Felling operations have now begun in the

mature stands and have created some structural diversity in the uniform mature high pine

forest.

The Corsican pine has been badly affected by Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) a fungal like

pathogen that affects tree growth through defoliation which significantly reduces timber

yields. It can also eventually lead to mortality. Scots pine has also become infected by DNB

but the impact currently has not been as great. Chalara dieback of ash is another serious

disease now affecting the ash trees in Hartshorne and Poppy Wood. The disease is spread

by a fungus called Hynenoscyphus fraxineus which causes leaf loss and crown dieback in

affected trees, and in most cases leads to tree death.

The dominant local landscape character is rolling arable farmland with hedgerows and small

areas of mature ancient and plantation woodland. The extensive new woodland plantings

associated to the National Forest, of which this plan forms part of, is changing the landscape

charter of the area from its ex-industrial use back to the Parkland landscape it was once

associated to.

The FP lies 10km south of Derby, 7km east of Burton on Trent and have easy access from

both the M1 and A38.

1.1. Robin and Repton FP – Survey Data

The Robin and Repton Forest Plan (259ha) comprises of five woodlands, Robin (98.1ha),

Repton (83.4ha), Hartshorne (31.7ha), Poppy Wood (26.6ha) and Stanton by Bridge

(19.2ha) which lie in the Melbourne Parklands Natural Area, South Derbyshire. The plan

area of 259ha comprises of 69% high forest, 22% of new woodland, 10% is open land and

7% agricultural land now to be planted with trees.

Robin and Repton were planted between 1957 and 1967 and are dominated by mature

conifers with some mature broadleaves scattered amongst the conifer stands. These two

woodlands are former Ancient Woodland Sites (AWS) and the design plan will focus on the

restoration of these woodlands. Poppy Wood and Hartshorne are new woodlands planted

between 2007 and 2012 on agricultural land and they are now well established. These new

woodland were planted with a mixture of species dominated by broadleaves. Stanton by

Bridge is a new acquisition which lies adjacent to Robin wood and will be planted in 2016

winter period with conifers and some small groups of broadleaves. Fig1 shows the current

age structure across the FP area.

Fig.2 Age Structure

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clearfells will be used to remove the conifers creating adequate space and light levels for the

site to be re-established with broadleaves by natural regeneration and enrichment planting.

In more mixed stands where there is either mature broadleaves or young trees which have

become fully established Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS)* will be used. The type of

LISS, frequency and intensity of harvesting within these stands will be decided by the Beat

forester* when they create their operational plan. The management objective will be to

create the correct woodland conditions to allow any existing broadleaves to develop fully and

create the correct microclimate for any restocking or natural regeneration to establish

successfully.

Mature broadleaved stands in Robin and Repton and young broadleaved stands in

Hartshorne and Poppy Wood will be managed using LISS allowing over time a mixed stand

structure to develop with trees of varying age, stocking density, species and crown cover.

This will help diversify the woodland ecosystems* and link the food chain associated with the

forest floor up into the mature tree canopy’s. To enable these planned operations a new

forest track will need to be created to allow access for forest machinery through Stanton by

Bridge into Robin Wood, see Access Map.

The threat to timber production from climate change and more directly from pest and

diseases (DNB and Chalara fraxinea (ash die back) is already having a major impact in the

forests, with Corsican pine and ash being worst affected. To ensure longterm sustainable

timber production, the present tree species will be diversified in future rotations selecting

species that are more resistant to the current and increased incidence of pests and disease.

Where natural regeneration is used to restock sites enrichment planting will take place to

allow for the introduction of alternative species and honorary natives. Corsican pine will be

targeted where possible for early removal in the future harvesting programme due to the

effect of DNB.

The woodlands all lie on fertile soil that comes from the Triassic Mercia Mudstones that

cover the area and gives rise to reddish soils. The yield classes recorded for the pine stands

ranges from 14-20m³ demonstrating how productive the woodland soils are.

2. Management Objectives

3.0 Forest Plan Objectives

3.1 Woodland

The key management objective for the forest plan woodlands will be the continued

production of sustainable timber crops, whilst diversifying the forest structure and restoring

Robin and Repton Woods back to broadleaved woodlands. This will be achieved using a

combination of silvicultural techniques selected by ground conditions and presence of

broadleaves within the existing crops. In conifer stands where there are few broadleaves

The conservation,

maintenance and enhancement

of cultural and heritage assets.

Restoration of PAWs

and recruitment of Trees

of Special Interest (TSI).

The continued production of sustain-

able and marketable woodland prod-

ucts to include infrastructure require-

ments.

The delivery of

well-designed

proposals that

comply with

landscape design

principles

The provision and

maintenance of recrea-

tion facilities.

- Support the development

of increased recreation pro-

vision in The National For-

est.

- Improve stand resilience

around recreation infra-

structure.

Improve species diversity And silvicultural techniques to regenerate commercially

productive but more structurally

and species diverse resilient crops.

Increase deadwood and

value of woodlands for

butterflies.

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3.2.1 Harvesting

Through the harvesting programme that has now begun, and scheduled to be extended

further across the mature woodlands, a patchwork of transitional open space will be created

and over time a varied canopy level will begin to appear following restocking providing

benefits for ground nesting birds. LISS will be used in existing broadleaved stands to

develop a varied age structure, canopy cover and stocking density within these areas that

will benefit the ground flora and increase available feeding and breeding habitat for

woodland fauna. Coppice with standards will be reintroduced again on an area of over

mature sweet chestnut coppice that is surrounded by a carpet of bluebells creating dappled

shade of varying intensity through the coppice cycle. Chestnut will be cut on a 20-30 year

cycle with individual stems been retained as standards. Thinning operations will begin

during the plan period on many of the new woodland areas to open up stands and create

space and light within the dense young stands. Several areas have been identified as

minimum intervention and in these areas following any immediate restructuring, the stands

will be left undisturbed creating an oasis for wildlife and allow the woodland ecosystem

within these areas to evolve naturally.

The proposed harvesting programme will generate approximately 75,000m³ over the next 50

years as opposed to the old plan that would have generated 45,000m³. The additional

volume has come about due to new coupe shapes, update yield models and survey data for

the current crops and three additional woodland areas now being part of the new FP Fig.5.

To ensure the future harvesting programmes can be undertaken in Robin Wood and Stanton

by Bridge a new forest road will be created following survey by our Civil Engineeers,

Environemental Impact Assessment (EIA) and planning approval.

There are few Trees of Special Interest (TSI) and limited deadwood habitat in the

woodlands. Through the provision of minimum intervention areas and the retention of

individual and small groups of conifers and broadleaf in perpetuity, the number of TSI and

volume of deadwood will gradually increase over time. This will provide valuable nesting

and feeding habitats for bats, birds and invertebrates.

The Forestry Commission is working in partnership with Butterfly Conservation who have

been monitoring Hartshorne and walking weekly transects between April and September

Fig.3 Current Species within Robin and Repton Forest Plan

Table 1. Current Species

The woodlands all lie on fertile soil that comes from the Triassic Mercia Mudstones that

cover the area and gives rise to reddish soils. The yield classes recorded for the pine stands

ranges from 14-20m³ demonstrating how productive the woodland soils are.

3.2 Environmental

The FP area has a wide variety of conservation interests that will benefit both directly and

indirectly from the active management programme put forward. The woodland structure in

both the mature and new woodlands is quite uniform which has limited the diversity of

woodland habitats available.

Robin Wood Stanton by

Bridge Poppy Wood

Repton Wood

Hartshorne Wood Total Percentage

Open Space 18.7 14.3 0.2 13.6 46.8 18.1

Broadleaves 34.6 12.4 35.4 18.2 100.6 38.8

Corsican Pine 47.6 13 60.6 23.4

Lawson Cypress 0.8 0.8 0.3

Weston Red Ceder 1 1 0.4

Scots Pine 15.4 33.9 49.3 19.0

Grand Total 98.6 18.7 26.7 83.3 31.8 259.1 100

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There are no Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the plan area but there are a number of

historic features and these as well as any others that may be found in the future will be

conserved wherever possible.

3.4 Restocking and Future Management

The current forest composition will change quite markedly over the next rotation in Robin

and Repton Woods moving away from what is now conifer woodland with isolated

broadleaves to a woodland dominated by broadleaves which contains a few small groups

and individual conifers. This will be achieved through a combination of planting and natural

regeneration. Felled areas will have trees planted in groups scattered across the felled area

with the remaining area left to naturally regenerate. This will allow new species to be

introduced onto the site and the origin* and provenance* of the planting stock to be selected

for its resilience to future threats from pest, disease and climate change. The stocking

density within the planted groups will be designed to grow trees of good shape and form with

reduced branching which will in turn lead to better quality timber production in the future. In

areas managed as LISS natural regeneration from the parent broadleaves will be used to

restock these areas with some enrichment planting to achieve full stocking and create the

opportunity to introduce new seed stock from different provenance and origin.

The new acquisition known as Stanton by Bridge will be planted in the winter/spring 2016/17

with a mixture of 5 conifer species and groups of broadleaves. This is a new woodland site

and will be managed to produce quality timber. Small groups of conifers will be planted in

both Poppy Wood and Hartshorne Wood primarily along rides and within the woodland edge.

These new plantings will group species into blocks to create strong changes of colour and

texture against the mixed broadleaved woodland especially in winter. Planting patterns will

be arranged to break up the linear parallel woodland edges and open corridors that are

developing as the new woodland establishes, and to create a more natural irregular edge

effect and parkland feel along the access routes.

The new species that will be used to diversify the forest will be increasingly palatable to

mammals and a greater level of protection may be needed to ensure successful

establishment and a combination of mammal control and fencing will be used to achieve this.

since 2014. They have recorded over 21 different species of butterfly including one of our

more elusive species the White-letter hairsteak. The FC has subsequently planted a variety

of elm including Wych elm which is the preferred food source for caterpillars of this species.

Fig.4 Production Forecasts

3.3 Social

The National Forest receives nearly 8 million visitors a year and the Robin and Repton FP is

an integral part of the landscape visitors come to enjoy. The current use across the FP is

low although the daily use of Poppy Wood is very high as a proportion of the total number of

people visiting each of the woodlands. Currently the only formal facilities provided are in

Poppy Wood with a small car park, waymarked trails and information points leading visitors

around the site. Picnic benches have been provided at both Poppy and Hartshorne Wood.

The FC open access policy into its freehold woodlands means that the public has access to

all areas (except Repton Wood which is leasehold and has access restriction placed on it)

for informal recreational use. The FC is now receiving a number of inquiries from different

user groups for permission to host events in the freehold woodlands and the FC will, where

possible continue to work with these groups.

Forestry operations including new planting will create a more varied woodland edge effect

along key access routes. This will help increase the aesthetic value of the trails to visitors by

selecting and opening up frame trees with good shape and form and creating a tapestry of

colour and texture between groups of trees. Varied cutting patterns of ride sides will also

create a mixture of soft and woody vegetation and provide ideal conditions for a more varied

ground flora.

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3.4.1 Habitat Management

The water courses will be actively managed moving back the tree line which will allow more

light onto the water course and open space for a diverse aquatic and riparian zone to

develop into. Individual trees with good crowns will be retained within these areas and

provide cover for birds. These areas will act as buffer zones for when adjacent stands are

felled and reduce the risk of siltation into the watercourse following felling operations.

The rides within the mature woodlands will be gradually opened up during thinning

operations and subsequent restocking, creating a wide woodland edge where an

understorey of trees and shrubs will develop to link the herbaceous vegetation associated

with forest roads to the forest canopy. In both mature and new woodlands the edge effect

will be gradually broken up through harvesting and new planting to remove straight edges

and create a more irregular edge. This will in turn increase the woodland edge habitat and

increase sheltered sunny glades especially on the north side of rides which will receive more

sunlight. This will benefit the indigenous ground flora and increase the available breeding

and feeding habitats for the woodland fauna.

Table 2 Future Species Composition – 2066

Habitat Hectare Percentage

Open Ground 51 20

Broadleaves 155.1 60

Mixed stands dominated by Broadleaves

32 12

Conifer Woodland 21 8

Total 259.1 100

Fig.5 Future Forest Structure

18%

39%

43%

Current Land Use 2016

Open Ground

Broadleaves

Conifer Woodland

20%

60%

8%

12%

Intended Landuse 2066

Open Ground

Broadleaves

Conifer Woodland

Mixed stands dominated byBroadleaves

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4. Meeting and Monitoring Management Objectives Objective Description Proposals Methods of Monitoring

Woodland New Woodlands on secondary woodland sites. Pests and disease - Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB) is now affecting the Lodgepole and Corsican pine stands. Chalara fraxinea (ash die back) is a fungal disease effecting ash trees and Phytophthora ramorum is now present in Central England and the risk to Sweet Chestnut is likely to increase.

The new woodlands at Poppy, Hartshorne and Stanton by Bridge will be managed to produce commercial quality timber. Final tree selection systems will be used and target trees pruned to produce clean logs. Forestry operations will be carried out sympathetically to enhance the aesthetic value of the woodland to visitors over time. Any stands badly affected by pests or diseases will be felled early and replanted with alternative tree species that will be more resilient.

Monitored by beat team and through Sub- compartment database. Monitored by beat team and through Sub- compartment database.

Objective Description Proposals Methods of Monitoring

Biodiversity Woodland edge habitat. Riparian areas.

The current uniform mature high forest will be gradually broken up as felling operations take place. The current straight edges will be broken up to create space for an understory to develop and trophic links between short vegetation along rides and canopy of high forest. The riparian areas alongside water courses and ponds will be opened up to create varying levels of dappled shade over the water and space for an understory to develop.

Monitored by wildlife ranger through Operational plans and at FP review. Monitor by beat team, Operational plans and at FP review.


Woodland The woodlands will be managed to produce commercial broadleaf and conifer timber using a variety of silvicultural systems which will be chosen to aid establishment.

Restocking and future species.

The existing conifer and broadleaves will be managed through a combination of clearfell and LISS based on current health of crops, natural regeneration present and landscape considerations. Stands will be thinned at regular intervals (5yrs conifer – 10years broadleaves) until the end of their economic rotation or until they have reached market diameter. Conifer stands will be managed as uniform high forest while broadleaves stands will be encouraged to develop into more structurally diverse stands. Natural regeneration with enrichment planting will be the preferred option across the plan area. Stands throughout the FP area will be diversified using a range of broadleaved and conifer species best suited to the site conditions and resilience to predicted impact of climate change, pest and disease. Due to the limited seed source for broadleaves in Robin and Repton Woods restocking to diversify indigenous species will be used to supplement the natural regeneration that has in the past been limited to birch. On AWS sites restocking will include up to 20% honorary native and 20% non-native species in this next rotation.

Monitored through Sub- compartment database.

Monitored through Sub- compartment database.

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5. 2016 Forest Plan comparison against the 2003 Forest Plan

The new FP has seen a major change in its management objectives for Robin and Repton

Wood that were previously to be managed as productive conifer woodlands. The objectives

now are to revert the woodlands back to ‘native’ broadleaved woodland due to their status as

former AWS. To achieve this there will be a move away from large scale clearfells used in

the old plan to a mixture of small scale felling and LISS. Restocking will now incorporate

greater use of natural regeneration to help new stands become established with any

restocking focusing on the introduction of new species and provenances which it is hoped

will be more resilient to the current and future treats posed by disease, insects and climate.

The harvesting programme being proposed will help deliver a number of ecological benefits

through the diversification of woodland structure, creation of transitional open space and

creation of more woodland edge habitats.


Biodiversity Trees of special interest (TSI) and deadwood.

Standing snags will be left and individual and small groups of trees will be retained beyond their economic rotation, to become trees of special interest and provide additional deadwood habitats.

Monitored through Operational Plans and GIS conservation layer.


Social & Recreation

The demand for access onto the Rbin and Repton FP area has increased over recent years.

The Forestry Commission will continue to allow open access onto its freehold land and to facilitate the future demand for recreation and tourism. No formal provision for new recreation facilities is planned at this time.

No monitoring required.

Heritage There are no scheduled monuments in the FP area but a number of historical features have been identified.

Any significant heritage features found will be taken into consideration when operations are planned and undertaken.

Monitored through Operational Plans and at FP review.

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6. Consultees

The consultation undertaken in the preparation of this plan has been wide ranging and extensive. Full documentation including letters, notes of conversations etc. are held at our District Offices.

Consultee Date Contacted Date Response Received

Issues Raised Forest District Response to Issues

To be completed following initial consultation outlining comments made

As part of the local consultation letters were sent to stakeholder, copies of the plan made available via the FC website, and notices placed on site. Comments received and the Forestry Commission’s

responses are recorded above.

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Repton Shrubs

Robin Wood

Poppy Wood

Hartshorne Wood

Location Map

The Woodlands lie within the National Forest, Derbyshire covering 259ha. Robin and Repton are former Ancient Woodland sites now covered in mature conifers and areas of hardwood. Hartshorne and Poppy Wood are new broadleaved woodlands planted between 2007 and 2015. Stanton by Bridge is a new site yet to be planted in a level open landscape. The surrounding landscape is rolling farmland with ancient and plantation woodland predominantly rural, often abrupt contrasts with the urban areas. The new woodlands in The National Forest are playing an important role in ecological and social benefits. The size and age of Robin and Repton Woods make them significant features in the landscape.

Stanton by Bridge

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All of the woodlands except Repton Shrubs are Freehold woodlands and have been dedicated as Open Access Land giving the public free access on foot throughout the woodland. Repton Shrubs has restricted access as part of the lease agreement and the public is limited to the designated public rights of way that run adjacent to it.

Robin Wood has a good network of forest roads and rides but no formal facilities. The access routes are currently quiet and enclosed due to the mature conifer stands adjacent to them.

Poppy wood has a car park, interpretation and marked trails, dog agility trail and permissive bridleway.

Hartshorne Wood design has incorporated open spaces with picnic benches, open view points, open spaces and a permissive horse route along its western edge.

1

3 2

5

8

9

10

11

6

4

Viewpoints

7

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Robin Wood has two streams which run with water except in extremely dry conditions.

Robin Wood is an ancient woodland now dominated by conifers. There is a good representation of mature and semi mature broadleaves in the south-western half of the woodland.

Corsican pine is the main species present in Robin wood and this is now being effected by Dothistroma Needle Blight which is effecting the health of the trees

Poppy Wood is a new woodland planted on agricultural land. It has a wide variety of species creating dense mixed stands. There is little structural diversity within the stands and along ride sides.

The availability of a car park makes Poppy wood the most frequently used woodland within the plan area. It is particularly popular with dog walkers due to the deer fence around its perimeter.

An open riparian habitat containing indigenous broadleaves and mixed confers can be found along the north-western edge of Robin Wood.

Each of the woodland areas has its own unique conservation and heritage features. These will be identified at the coupe planning stage to ensure these are incorporated into the future management wherever possible.

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A woodbank runs through the Repton Shrubs along the Parish boundary and three large liner mounds lie to the south of the main forest road.

The Corsican pine in Repton Shrubs is now being affected by Dothistroma Needle Blight which is affecting the health of the trees and reducing its annual yield.

Hartshorne is a new woodland planted on agricultural land with a wide mixture of broadleaf and shrub species. The young plantation has not yet become fully established and areas of ash that have now died due to Chalara need replanting. There is little structural diversity within the stands and across the new woodland.

A small section of Hartshorne Wood has been planted by Forest Research studying the impacts of climate change on various species.

Repton Shrubs is an ancient woodland site which contains a good assemblage of broadleaves trees of varying age and species.

Each of the woodland areas has its own unique conservation and heritage features. These will be identified at the coupe planning stage to ensure these are incorporated into the future management wherever possible.

A number of water courses can be found in Repton Shrubs with associated indigenous vegetation.

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The patchwork of colours represents the percentage of each species within mixed crops. The spatial representation does not reflect the position on the ground of each species, simply the overall woodland composition.

The current rotation of Scots and Corsican pine which were planted between 1958 and 1970 have had an average yield of 14-16. With Robin and Repton being classified as Ancient Woodland sites and Poppy Wood, Hartshorne and Stanton by Bridge are new secondary woodlands.

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The western aspect of Robin Wood reveals some strong geometric patterns where the broadleaves and conifers meet. Recent felling operations have helped address this and future management operation will soften these edges further.

Repton Shrubs is a prominent feature in the local landscape when travelling north and south along the B Road that runs along the western edge of the woodland.

The size and shape of the new woodlands (Poppy and Harsthorne) fit well in the gently rolling local landscape that is dominated by agriculture interspersed by small broadleaved woodlands and hedgerows.

The landscape analysis is used to assess landform patterns and character. Your eye is naturally drawn up gullies and down ridges and these principles will be used to help design new management coupes. This will ensure that the size and scale of future felling operations does not detract from the natural appearance of the woodlands and softens any existing hard edges.

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The phased removal of conifer has already begun in Robin Wood focusing on the removal of stands worst effected by DNB. Due to the scale of conifers and limited seed source for broadleaves enrichment planting will be needed to ensure full stocking of broadleaves following the removal of conifers.

Thinning operations will be undertaken within Poppy Wood to diversify the current dense uniform structure. Some further planting will take place along rides to create varying blocks of colour and texture and break up uniform hard edges.

The current access facilities within Poppy Wood will be maintained.

The woodland habitat along the main water courses will be opened up to create a more structured transition from aquatic to riparian through to high forest.

The new land acquisition adjacent to Robin Wood know as Stanton by Bridge will be planted with a mixture of conifer and broadleaves. The proposed forest road will provide easy access for visitors from the road (adjacent to Poppy Wood) into Robin Wood and provide visitors with new long circular walks leaving from Poppy Wood car park. Its construction will be subject to a survey by Civil Engineers, EIA and planning approval.

The network of forest roads within Robin Wood will be gradually opened up as adjacent stands are managed. When restocking takes place the new tree line will be moved back from the roads creating an irregular woodland edge with space for woodland edge vegetation to become fully established.

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Corsican pine stands worst effected by DNB will be removed before the Scots pine who’s growth has not been as severely effected.

The wide straight uniform grass paths will be broken up by the planting of some small groups of trees. Species selected will be grouped to help add colour and texture.

The woodbank and mounds will be left undisturbed and no machinery will be used within 10m of these features. Trees that regenerate on or adjacent to the woodlbank and bounds will be removed.

The main water course within the woodland will be opened up to create a wide open glade with some individual feature trees retained.

Ash stands will be replanted with a variety of species including evergreen conifers. This will add to the structural diversity within the stands, provide cover for birds and colour in the landscape during the winter months.

Hartshorne woodland is a young woodland and not yet full established. It will be another 15 –20 years before the first major thinning operations are undertaken.

The broadleaves of good quality or TSI within the conifer stands will be retained wherever possible to form part of the next rotation. The whole area will see a phased return to becoming a broadleaved woodland again.

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In this current rotation the broadleaved stands will be managed through LISS. This will ensure a continuity of woodland cover and create internal space for regeneration to become established and a diverse woodland structure to develop over time.

The Corsican pine stands will be managed as small scale clearfells which will create adequate light levels for the light demanding broadleaved species that will be used to restock the woodland.

An area of Alder, Grand fir and Oak have been selected as an area of minimum intervention due to its remote locality and diverse mixed age structure.

Riparian zones will be managed using LISS to give management the flexibility they need to selectively remove small groups and individual trees to create the woodland edge habitat that will link the aquatic vegetation through to high forest.

Area of mature Sweet Chestnut will be managed as coppice with standards. Thinning will begin in the new woodlands to

provide the existing crops with adequate space to become fully established and reach maturity. Thinning intensities will differ throughout the stands to reduce branching on timber trees and create more open space around amenity trees which will allow a full crown to develop.

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Two small coupes at the northern end of Robin wood will create good vistas down the slope to help with mammal control when these stands are restocked.

The felling coupes have been designed to straddle the forest roads diversify the woodland structure and open up internal views.

Coupes managed as LISS will agree the details of any felling at the Ops1 planning stage based on the areas management objectives (Restoration of AWS, Riparian zones, Limited Intervention, Coppice with Standards)

The medium to longterm felling periods shown for the Corsican pine stands may be reviewed at FP renewal (every 10 years) due to the impact DNB has on the health of these stands.

No felling operations are planned for Stanton by Bridge during the life of this plan other than thinning operations that will commence in 2035. Coppicing will begin in the

mature Sweet Chestnut leaving an overstory of approximately 80standards/ha (gradually reducing to 30stems/ha). Coppice will be cut on a 20 year cycle recruiting new standards from the coppice stems.

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Over the next 100 years the stands of pine in Robin Wood will be gradually removed and the woodland reverted back to broadleaves. Some small groups and individual conifers will be retained for aesthetics and biodiversity, providing winter colour and cover for high nesting birds.

Stanton by Bridge is a new secondary woodland site and will be planted with a mixture of conifer species planted in single coupes interspaced by small block of broadleaves. This woodland will be managed to produce commercial conifer logs.

Poppy Woods young mixed broadleaves will be managed over the next 50 years to create mixed stands which contain some specimen trees with good shape and form. Some small groups of conifers will be planted along rides and within the current woodland edge to diversify the shape, colour and texture of the woodland for visitors, especially through autumn, winter and spring.

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Thinning will begin in Hartshorne in the next 15-20 years to provide the existing crops with adequate space to become fully established and reach maturity. Thinning intensities will differ throughout the stands to reduce branching on timber trees and create more open space around amenity trees which will allow a full crown to develop.

The conifer stands will be managed as small scale clearfells which will create adequate light levels for the light demanding broadleaved species that will be used to restock the woodland.

In this current rotation the broadleaved stands will be managed through LISS. This will ensure a continuity of woodland cover and create internal space for regeneration to become established and a diverse woodland structure to develop over time.

Crown thinning will take place around the semi–mature broadleaves that are present within the conifer stands. This will help them develop larger crowns and increase seed production. When the conifer stands are felled the existing broadleaves will be retained wherever quality allows as seed trees and become part of the next rotation.

The belt of trees along the western edge of the wood will open up to 40stems/ha then managed as minimum intervention. The other two areas of minimum intervention will not have any restructuring undertaken and left for the mixed stands to evolve naturally.

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The first phase of felling will open up the water course and push back the conifer tree line up the slope to the east. A selection of specimen broadleaves and conifers with good shape and form will be retained within the area to be managed as open space. Any broadleaves which will remain windfarm after the felling will be retained to form part of the next rotation.

The second phase of felling in Repton will remove a block of Corsican pine. This stand is quite mixed with dense patches of broadleaves through to areas of pure pine. Broadleaves within the clearfell area will be retained wherever quality allows to form part of the next rotation.

Coupes managed as LISS will agree the details of any felling at the Ops1 planning stage based on the areas management objectives (Restoration of AWS, Riparian zones or Limited Intervention)

No felling operations are planned for Hartshorne Wood during the life of this plan other than thinning operations that will commence from 2030.

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Over the next 100 years Repton Shrubs will be gradually reverted back to broadleaves through the removal of conifers and restocking with broadleaves. Some small groups and individual conifers will be retained for aesthetics and biodiversity, providing winter colour and cover for high nesting birds.

Hartshorne Woods young broadleaves will be managed over the next 50 year to create mixed stand which contain some specimen trees with good shape and form. Some small groups of conifers will be planted along rides and within the current woodland edge to diversify the shape, colour and texture of the woodland for visitors, especially through autumn, winter and spring.

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planted in the next year and their will now be income generated through harvesting

operations of these new woodland sites over the next 20 years.

The is no income regeneration through recreation at this time although opportunities for

events may generate some revenue to offset management costs in the future.

Environmental

The woodland structure in both the mature and new woodlands is quiet uniform which has

limited the diversity of woodland habitats available. The new plan will diversity the structure

through a combination of phased clearfell operations and Low Impact Silvicultural Systems.

The forest plan will address the fact that there is limited deadwood habitats and no

ecologically mature trees within the plan area. This will be achieved through the retention of

some trees of special interest (TSI) in perpetuity and leaving some areas of woodland

unmanaged and to evolve naturally. Water courses have not been managed and the plan

will begin to restructure the dominant mature stands that have prevented an understory

developing in the riparian zone. Ride side management is taking place in the new

woodlands and this is having a positive effect on the butterfly population that is monitored

annually.

3.3 Social

The FC will continue to promote access into its freehold woodlands (Robin, Poppy,

Hartshorne and Stanton by Bridge) but due to the lease restriction under which Repton

Wood is managed for forestry purposes the FC is prevented from allowing public access into

Repton Wood. There is a car park in Poppy Wood used regularly on a daily basis by dog

walkers and it is hoped that through the acquisition of Stanton By Bridge this will help link

paths that lead from Poppy Wood into Robin Wood creating circular walks.

Consultation

The consultation period will run from Oct 2016 through to Nov 2016 after which time the

Forest Pan will be finalised and submitted onto the public register for approval.

Appendix I

The Robin and Repton Forest Plan Brief

Introduction

This Forest Plan (FP) summaries proposals by the Forestry Commission for the

management of five woodlands, Robin (98.1ha), Repton (83.4ha), Hartshorne (31.7ha),

Poppy (26.6ha) and Stanton by Bridge (19.2ha) which lie in the National Forest, South

Derbyshire. The plan area of 259.1ha lies 10km south of Derby, 7km east of Burton on

Trent and have easy access from both the M1 and A38.

Landscape setting

The plan area comprises of mature plantation on ancient woodland sites (PAWs) and new

secondary woodland Situated in rolling, predominantly arable, countryside rising from the

flood plain on the southern side of the River Trent. The area has a long history going back

to when Repton village was the capital of Mercia in AD653 with many of the fields having

ancient names handed down through the century’s. Principal views of Robin, Poppy,

Hartshorne and Stanton by Bridge are from the A514 that runs between Swadlincote north to

Derby. Repton Wood is more remote and only clearly visible from a few minor roads west of

Repton village.

Economic

The woodlands are all situated on fertile free draining soils producing high yields. Repton

and Robin wood were planted between 1958 and 1968 with 50% pure conifer crops and

50% mixed conifer and broadleaves. Corsican and Scots pine were the main species

planted and now at the end of their economic rotation, harvesting operations have now

commenced. The plan will phase in the harvesting over the next 50 years to ensure a

continuity of woodland cover which will mean retaining some stands past their economic

rotation. This will ensure a sustainable harvesting programme can be delivered in the

mature woodlands throughout the life of this plan.

Poppy and Hartshorne Wood were recently planted (2002 onwards) with a mixture of

broadleaved species. The first thinning operations will begin in the next 10 year period to

help restructure some of the more densely planted area. Stanton by Bridge is due to be

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Appendix I—Glossary Biological Diversity The richness and variety of wildlife and habitats.

Canopy The mass of foliage and branches formed collectively by the crowns of trees. Clearfell System The removal of all trees in one operation >0.5ha.

Coupes Areas of forest that have been or will be managed together. Ecosystems An ecosystem includes all of the living things (plants, animals and organisms) in a given area, interacting with each other, and also with their non-living environments (weather, earth, sun, soil, climate). England Forestry Strategy (now England’s Trees Woodlands and Forests) Describes how the Government will deliver its forestry policies in England and sets out the Government’s priorities for the next five to ten years. Forestry and Water guidelines 5

th edition 2011

Forests and Water is one of a series of seven Guidelines that support the United Kingdom Forestry Standard (UKFS). The UKFS and Guidelines outline the context for forestry in the UK, set out the approach of the UK governments to sustainable forest management, define standards and requirements, and provide a basis for regulation and monitoring including national and international reporting. Forestry Commission Guidelines Outline the principles and standards of good management practices in forests and woodlands for landowners, land managers and their advisors. Forest Plan (FP) An approved plan that outlines felling operation over a 10 year period, outlining proposals over the next 50 years. The FDP’s are reviewed every 5 years and redrawn and approved every 10 years. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) An internationally recognised body made up of non-government organisations promoting sustainable forest management to the forest industry and consumers. Historic Environment These are the physical remains of every period of human development from 450,000 years ago and include earthworks, buried remains, structures and buildings.

Landscape Character England is renowned for its rich, diverse and beautiful landscapes which have their own distinct local character. These have been shaped over many thousands of years by natural influences such as soil and landform and by generations of human activity. Long Term Retention Trees that are being retained beyond their economic rotation. Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) Describes a number of felling systems (shelterwood, group felling, selection systems) which avoid large scale felling coupes and the forest canopy is maintained at one or more levels. Natural Character Areas (NCAs) England is divided into 159 distinct natural areas. Each is defined by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and cultural and economic activity. Natural regeneration The growth of trees from seed found in the soil or cast from adjacent trees and shrubs. Operational Plans (Ops1) Detailed site plans that are prepared in advance of all major forest operations and identify site constraints, opportunities and areas requiring special treatment or protection. Origin The geographic locality within the natural range of a species where the parent seed source or its wild ancestors grew. Provenance The geographic locality of a stand of trees from where the seed was collected. Public Rights of Way (PROW) Access routes open to the public through legal designation. Restocking The re-establishment of trees where felling has taken place. Restocking may be achieved through natural regeneration but as a term, it is more usually associated with replanting. Ride Forestry term for unsurfaced roads, paths and tracks within a woodland. Scheduled Monuments Nationally important archaeological sites which are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act, 1979. Secondary Woodland Woodlands that have been established on land that was formally used as pasture, meadows, arable, quarries etc and has not continually been wooded

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Selective Felling Where individual trees of varying sizes are selected and removed from a stand. The whole stand is worked and its aim is to maintain full stocking of all tree sizes and ages, from seedlings to mature trees, in any one area. Silvicultural Systems Techniques of managing a forest through a variety of cutting / felling patterns and time scale. Sub-compartments Areas of forest comprising a more or less homogeneous crop in terms of age, species composition and condition. Their boundaries may change as the forest develops after felling and restocking. Strategic Plan Serves as a guide to the management of woodlands within Central England Forest District. It divides the district into zones for the purpose of management and ensures that forestry activities reflect the local ecological, social and cultural individuality of woodland. Strategic objectives for each zone are presented within the context of the Government’s strategic priorities for forestry in England (e.g. forestry for rural development; forestry for economic regeneration; forestry for recreation, access and tourism and forestry for the environment and conservation). Thinning The removal of a proportion of the trees in a sub-compartment to improve the quality of the remaining trees, accelerate individual tree growth and provide income. UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) Outlines the Government’s criteria and standards for the sustainable management of forests in the UK. UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) A voluntary scheme for the independent assessment of forest management in the UK. The Scheme has been developed by a partnership of forestry and environmental organisations in response to the growing consumer demand for timber products from sustainably managed forests. It has been designed to ensure that it reflects the requirements of both the Government's UK Forestry Standard - and through this the guidelines adopted by European Forestry Ministers at Helsinki in 1993 - and the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC's) GB Standard. Trees of special interest (TSI) A tree that is of interest biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of its age, or a tree that is in the ancient stage of its life, or a tree that is old relative to others of the same species. Yield Class Yield class is a measure of the growth rate of a tree crop and is the maximum average rate of volume increment (increase) that a particular crop can achieve. For example, a crop capable of a maximum annual increment of 14 m3 per hectare has a yield class of 14.

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Perspective No. 1 – View of the north west side of Repton Wood 2016

Perspective No. 1 – View of the north west side of Repton Wood 2003

The recent clearfell site which is visible from the road blends into the landscape and is now becoming established with broadleaves.

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Perspective No. – View of the western side of Repton Wood 2016

Perspective No. – View of the western side of Repton Wood 2003

No visible change in the land-scape has taken place or is planned in the next 10 years.

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Perspective No. 3 – View of the southern side of Repton Wood 2016

Perspective No. 4 – View from picnic benches overlooking Hartshorne Wood 2016

The use of LISS means that the outward appearance of Repton Wood from the southern side should not see any major changes.

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Perspective No. 5 – View of the west side of Hartshorne Wood 2016

Perspective No. 6 – View of Open wildflower meadow on the Southern side of Hartshorne Wood 2016

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Perspective No. 7 – View of the south side of Robin Wood 2016

Perspective No. 7 – View of the south side of Robin Wood 2003

Recent clear fell operations have lowered the tree line in two locations.

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Perspective No. 8 – View of the east side of Robin Wood 2016

Perspective No. 8 – View of the east side of Robin Wood 2003

New private woodland planting scheme is becoming established in field and obscuring the view of Robin Wood from the public road.

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Perspective No. 9 – View north over Poppy Wood 2016

Perspective No. 10 – View west over Poppy Wood 2016

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Perspective No. 11 – View of from car park onto Poppy Wood 2016

Robin & Repton Forest Plan 2016 2026 - Forestry Commission · OS Grid Reference: Robin Wood SK...

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