Woodland Management Plan

Hirst Wood North

Community Woodland

Date (from/to) / 14. 7. 2011
Date of last review [UKWAS 2.1.3] / N/A
Owner/tenant / Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Agent/contact / Bob Thorp
Signed declaration of tenure rights and agreements to public availability of the plan [UKWAS 1.1.3/1.1.5/2.1.2]

1Background information

1.1Location

Nearest town, village or feature / Shipley
Grid reference / SE126382
Total area (ha) / 14.38

1.2Description of the woodland(s) in the landscape

Hirst Wood (north) is located in the bottom of the Aire valley, midway between Bingley and Shipley. It is bounded on its northern edge by the River Aire, to the west the boundary is the Leeds Carlisle railway line. The Leeds Liverpool canal forms the eastern edge of the wood, and to the south is a mix of open space, industry and housing. Despite the amount of human activity squeezed into the valley the wood retains its character, and is a valuable recreational and wildlife amenity. There are other areas of woodland of varying sizes, some connected,throughout the this part of the Aire valleyinto which Hirst Wood fits as part of the mosaic

1.3History of Management

There are no written records of management for this wood.

2Woodland Information

2.1Areas and features

Designated Areas / MapNo. / In Woodland / Adjacent to woodland
Special areas for conservation (SACs)
Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
Ramsar Sites (see note on Guidance)
National Nature Reserves (NNRs)
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Other designations (e.g. National Park (NP) / World Heritage Site)
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)
TPO / Conservation Area (CA) / Yes
Details
Hirst Wood is designated a Bradford Wildlife Area. The wood is part of the Saltaire Conservation Area and is a S.E.G.I.. The canal which forms the eastern boundary is a S.E.G.I.
Rare and important species / MapNo. / In Woodland / Adjacent to woodland
Red Data Book or BAP species / Yes
Rare, threatened, EPS or SAP species
Details
According to Yorkshire Ecology records, the following species have been noted; grass snake, otter, noctule bat.
Twite,skylark,tree pipit, nightjar,cuckoo, starling, redwing, song thrush, fieldfare, yellow wagtail, spotted flycatcher, willow tit, house sparrow, tree sparrow, lesser spotted woodpecker, yellow hammer and lapwing.Bluebells are present in the wood
Habitats / MapNo. / In Woodland / Adjacent to woodland
Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) / ASNW / Yes
Other semi-natural woodland
Plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS)
Semi-natural features in PAWS
Woodland margins and hedges
Veteran and other notable trees
Breeding sites
Habitats of notable species
Unimproved grasslands
Rides and open ground
Valuable wildlife communities
Feeding area
Lowland heath
Peatlands
Others
Details
All of the wood is designated as ASNW
Water / MapNo. / In Woodland / Adjacent to woodland
Watercourses / Watercourse / Yes
Lakes
Ponds
Wetland habitats
Details
The river and Leeds Liverpool run adjacent to the wood
Landscape / MapNo. / In Woodland / Adjacent to woodland
Landscape designated areas
Landscape features
Rock exposures / Yes
Historic landscapes
Areas of the woodland prominent from roads / Woodlands / Yes
Areas of the woodland prominent from settlements / Woodlands / Yes
Details
Parts of the wood are visible from roads and housing in the surrounding area
Cultural features / MapNo. / In Woodland / Adjacent to woodland
Public rights of way / Footpaths / Yes
Prominent viewing points
Existing permissive footpaths
Proposed permissive footpaths
Areas managed with traditional management systems
Details
There is a public footpath through the wood and many informal paths.The wood is entirely open to public access
Archaeological Features / MapNo. / In Woodland / Adjacent to woodland
Scheduled monument
Historical feature (Inc. designed landscapes, registered parks and gardens)
Other
Details
There is anecdotal evidence of archeaology in the wood, Yorkshire Archeaology will be consulted before anything other than minor works are carried out

2.2Woodland resource characteristics

The site contains alder,birch, beech, horse chestnut, oak,rowan, willow and sycamore in a mix of ages, with an understorey of ash, beech, birch,elder, holly, sycamore and rowan. Ground cover is patchy due to light levels

2.3Site description

Hirst Wood north is approximately an elongated rectangle on a slightly raised site, possibly the remains of a glacial moraine, in the busy Aire valley. Most of the wood is accessible to vehicles, the exception being along the canal side where the land slopes quite steeply in places. There are the remains of possible field walls and stonework visible in places.

2.4Significant hazards, constraints and threats

There are hazards to the site, in the form of extremely steep slopes in places and some boggy areas. A constraint to any operations is public access to this popular wood. Threats to the wood appear minimal. There is occasional fly tipping, camping and illegal mountain bike access. The presence of mature beech is suppresing ground cover and preventing regeneration in places

3Long term vision, management objectives and strategy

3.1Long term vision

The long term vision is to maintain aregenerating broadleaf woodland on the site able to provide recreational and educational opportunities for the many visitors to this wood.Forest schools use the wood and it is likely that this activity will expand in the future

3.2Management Objectives

1 To maintain a safe woodland for visitors
2 Encourage the continuing development of a mixed age class and species wood
3 To manage the wood to UKWAS standards
4 Monitor and control beech regeneration

3.3Strategy

To achieve the above objectivesregeneration will be monitored to favour native species. No felling will be carried out apart fromnecessary safety work. It may become necessary to construct/refurbish paths within the wood due to the high levels of use. The wood is adjacent to Saltaire World Heritage Site and consequently requires routine maintenance to be carried out to a standard that complements the W.H.S.

3.4 Woodfuel Initiative

Would you be interested in receiving information on funding opportunities for the purchase of harvesting machinery or wood fuel boilers, or for grants that support timber production from your woodlands?
No (delete as appropriate)

4Management prescriptions/operations

4.1Silvicultural systems

4.1.1Harvesting

N/A

4.1.2Phased felling and restructuring of plantations

N/A

4.1.3Establishment, restocking and regeneration

Regeneration of native species will be encouraged. Planting of small numbers of trees or individuals will be carried out depending on space and species mix in specific parts of the wood

4.2New planting

N/A

4.3Other operations

N/A

4.4Protection and maintenance

4.4.1Pest and disease management

None noted

4.4.2Fire plan

In the event of a fire, actions for B.M.D.C. staff are
1 Contact the Fire and Rescue Service
2 Attend with beaters if possible
3 Close the wood to the public
Fire and Rescue will normally attend with one pump, and call upon further resources asnecessary

4.4.3Waste disposal and pollution

If any pollutants are carried into the woods during forestry operations they will have been identified in the operational risk assesment, and suitable spill kits carried

4.4.4Protection from unauthorised activities

A combination of ranger patrols, liason with the West Yorkshire Police and reporting by members of the public helps to keep misuse to a minmum

4.4.5Protection of other identified services and values

N/A

4.5Game management

N/A

4.6Protecting and enhancing landscape, biodiversity and special features

4.6.1Management of designated areas

N/A

4.6.2Measures to enhance biodiversity and other special features [UKWAS 2.1.1/6.1.1]

Where possible standing deadwood will be left in place, all other deadwood will be left on site, arisings will be formed into habitat piles

4.6.3Special measures for ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) and semi-natural woodland (SNW)

The wood will be managed to UKWAS guidelines for ASNW woods, and F.C. Practice Guides

4.6.4Special measures for plantation on ancient woodland site (PAWS)

N/A

4.6.5Measures to mitigate impacts on landscape and neighbouring land [UKWAS 3.1.2]

N/A

4.7Management of social and cultural values

4.7.1Archaeology and sites of cultural interest

N/A
Before any operations involving ground disturbance are undertaken, Yorkshire Archeaology will be consulted regarding possible sites within the wood

4.7.2Public access and impacts on local people

There is a public footpath through the site and many informal paths. The wood is completely opento public access. The main path is wheelchair friendly.

5Consultation

Organisation/individual / Date received / Comment / Response/action
Public / Notification of intended works will be by signage

6Monitoring plan summary

Objective number, issue or UKWAS Requirement / Indicator / Method of assessment / Monitoring period / Responsibility / How will information be used
Tree safety
Adjacent to paths / Condition / Visual / Annually / B.M.D.C. / To feedback to management plan and task work teams
Species and age mix / Presence / Visual / Annually / B.M.D.C / To fedback to management plan
Invasive weeds / Presence / Visual / Annually / B.M.D.C. / To task work teams

7 Work programmes

7.1Outline long-term work programme (2011-2031)

(Use this table to outline medium to long term areas of work)

Cpt. Ref or Name / Activity / Year(tick)
6-10 / 11-20
All wood / Arboricultural/ forestry work as generated by surveys / / / /
All wood / Invasive weed control / /

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Woodland Name | Management Plan | 1

Woodland Management Plan

7.2Short-term work programme (2011- 2016)

(Use this table to collect basic inventory data for the woodland areas you propose to work during the next 5 years)

Cpt. Ref / Name / Area (ha) / Main Species / P. Year / Yield Class / Activity / Year
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
All wood / Arboricultural/ forestry work as generated by surveys / / / / / / / / / /
All wood / Invasive weed control / / / / / / / / / /
All wood / Footpath maintenance / / / / / / / / / /

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Woodland Name | Management Plan | 1

Woodland Management Plan

8Costing Operations

All costs will be met by B.M.D.C

9Maps

It is recommended that you show as much information on subject based maps as possible. For example, a map showing site constraints or a concept map showing the main proposals.

List all maps here and append to plan:

Map no./Title / Description
Woodlands / Identifies woodland
Watercourses / Identifies watercourses
ASNW / Identifies ASNW woodland

10Thinning, felling and restocking proposals

The template and guidance should be carefully followed to aid production of a good management plan, and ensure that we can pay the grant.

Most of the template will need to be completed by everyone, but the following sections are not compulsory, unless you wish to apply for woodfuel grants or Category B approval.

  • You must complete Section 10, Table A if you want to use the plan to gain Wood Fuel WIG support or seek funding through other wood fuel initiatives.
  • You must complete Section 10, Table B if you want to gain 10 year thinning and felling approval and / or meet the requirements of Category B.

This section should not be completed for any other applications.

10.1Table A

Applicants seeking funding through a woodfuel initiative for harvesting machinery or wood fuel boilers, or wishing to apply for EWGS Woodfuel WIG must provide basic inventory data (WPG template 7.2) and estimate the total volume that is to be thinned and felled during the period of this plan, by completing Table A.

(Using inventory data from table 7.2, complete a timber volume estimate)

Cpt(s) (from table 7.2) / Main Species (BL/Con) / Total work Area (ha) / Estimated volume to be harvested during work periods (m3)
Yr 1 - 5 / Yr 6 - 10 / Yr 11 - 20
Example 1a, 2, 3 / Con / 7.2 / 300 / - / -

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Woodland Name | Management Plan | 1

Woodland Management Plan

10.2Table B

This section must be fully completed by the applicant if they wish to gain felling licence approval from the Forestry Commission. The work detailed below must match the proposals set out in the plan. For details on how to complete this table, please refer to EWGS4 – Woodland Regenerationfor guidance and Tree Felling guidance.

4.
Cpt. / Sub Cpt. / 5.
Area (ha) / 6.
% area to be worked / 7.
Type of felling / 8.
% of felled area comprising: / 9.
Felling licence type / 10.
Change in woodland type / 11.
Preferred claim year / 13.
Restock mixture / 14.
% Estab. by natural regen / Standard proposals / 12.
Notes / Details
Species / %
BL / CON / From / To
1a / 2.7 / 30% / SF / - / 100 / C / PAWS / Nat / 11/12 / POK / 40% / 10% / 1(i) / example

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Woodland Name | Management Plan | 1