MANAGEMENT PLAN

SKELSMERGH PARISH WOODLAND

Description

  • Location: The land is located at Garth Row, below A6 at O.S.SD527975, Parcel No.7463 (1:1250 series), comprising 2.74 acres between the 130m &150m.contours, sloping quite steeply down from below A6, facing SW. The land is bounded to the NE by a highway retaining wall consisting of a mortared curtain wall on concrete foundations 50-60m long at the SE end with a dry-stone structure continuing to the NE corner. The remaining boundary walls are of dry-stone construction (in want of repair in places). A highway culvert discharges across the land from below A6 providing a source of water in all but the driest conditions. The land is also crossed by overhead power cable supported on two posts. An underground cable passes from the northernmost pole via the gateway to join a pole in the highway at an estimated depth of 12- 18 inches.
  • Access: Access is taken from the minor unclassified highway between Garth Row and A6 on the NE boundary via a 12’ field gate and a visibility splay reconstructed in 2003.
  • Designations.

There are no statutory designations affecting the land.

Aspect, Soil and Drainage.

The land is situated below the 150m.contour facing SW. Soil is very stony to extremely stony of coarse loam holding moisture in all but the steepest parts with Ph values between 5.6 and 7 across the site. Land is irrigated from a drain (q.v.) that creates a boggy section dividing the site (see plan). An initial test against woodland classification suggests W11 (sessile oak- downy birch) as the appropriate class within which to develop woodland. The land was formerly let as rough grazing on annual licence to local farmers until 2000.

Existing trees prior to planting

Mature trees found in the boundaries of the land are predominantly sycamore with some ash. There were no trees wholly within the land when planting was commenced.

Ground flora

Predominantly meadow grasses invaded by creeping thistle, docks and ragwort. Also present: foxglove, dog daisy, cuckoo -flower, lesser stitchwort, brooklime, hybrid bluebell, hawkweed, harebell. Species introduced since 2002 include meadow cranesbill, primrose, ragged robin, bluebell, pink campion plus seeds of hay-rattle, meadow -sweet, marsh -marigold, martagon lily and chervil collected from local hedgerows.

Fauna

The land is heavily populated by voles and moles. A badger sett is located on the upper side of A6 opposite and there is evidence of occasional forays onto the land.

Landscape features

The land can be seen from a number of vantage points locally but is not conspicuous. It does afford fine views outward over the Kent Valley and the backdrop of the distant Lakeland fells from the seat, which has been located to take advantage of the situation.

Archaeology

No archaeological features have been identified.

Public access

The land is open to the public and access has been improved by the installation of 12’ field gate set back in a newly -formed splay. Parking is available for two or three cars. The only other parking nearby is in the lay bye on A6 opposite the land on the southbound lane.

Surrounding land use.

To SE land is bounded by pasture occupied by Mr. P.Jameson of Lingfell, Garth Row, and to the SW by private amenity woodland owned by Mr. S. Kent of Quarrie Rigg, Garth Row and by highways to the NE & NW. The ‘T’-marks on the enclosure award are attached to the NW & NW boundaries but responsibility for the walls retaining the A6 must, notwithstanding, reside with the highway authority. The ‘t’-mark to the SE is in Mr. Jameson’s land but no mark is attached to the boundary with Mr. Kent and it must be assumed that responsibility is joint.

Evaluation

The land is in the sole ownership of Skelsmergh Parish Council by virtue of the Skelsmergh, Whitwell, Selside and Crook Enclosure Award 1824. The council took the opportunity in1999 to develop the land as an amenity woodland to coincide with the Millennium and to complement other planting and woodland management schemes in the parish. Convenient to Garth Row and accessible to the public on foot, a small woodland managed for amenity and access was thought to offer benefits to the overall landscape, to wildlife habitat in the area and to casual walkers. Potential for planting local memorial trees and for educational purposes in conjunction with Selside Endowed Primary school have been identified as further benefits together with the opportunity the land offers for the involvement of volunteers in planting, maintenance and walling. Soil conditions are suitable for a wide range of broadleaved tree species commonly (and in some cases less commonly) found locally. By planting wild daffodil and bluebell the woodland will develop as a distinctive local feature. The scheme has already attracted grants and should be eligible for more as the woodland matures.

Management objectives

  1. To manage the trees so as to bring to ultimate maturity a range of broadleaves at appropriate spacing whilst encouraging a diverse under storey and ground flora coupled with the maintenance of views into and from the site by the maintenance of a ride leading to the seat.
  2. To encourage wild birds by the selective siting of nesting boxes.
  3. To enhance the local landscape by introduction of wild flowers and shrub species to increase the interest of the site for the public.
  4. To ensure that the site remains accessible for the local community and the general public for informal recreation.
  5. To encourage use by local schools as an environmental studies resource.

Management proposals

Planting and aftercare: the site was planted in three principal stages (see appendix 1). No initial preparation was done with the intention that trees would be protected in spirals with weedkiller applied annually as necessary. With grant assistance the spirals have largely been replaced with tubes, which seem to provide better protection from vole damage. The species mixture reflects local species but has included some species not commonly found and a few conifers (see appendix 1).

Some natural regeneration of ash has been noted and protection has been given to some seedlings in order to evaluate rates of success.

Apart from vole damage no browsing has yet been detected but deer are found in the area and this is the subject of periodic monitoring. No rabbits have been observed on the land, which may be the result of domestic cats prowling.

Thistles, docks and ragwort occur and should be strimmed annually or dosed with round up during annual spray in 1m. circles around individual trees until the weeds begin to be shaded-out naturally. Spraying should continue selectively until at least 2005 and in any event until growth rates of individual trees indicate they have ‘established’.

Felling/thinning

A review in 2007/8 should be done to consider a first thinning and beating-up of lower branches. Thinnings should be trimmed and stacked on site in orderly piles to encourage invertebrates (garden shrub trimmings can be accepted at any time – but not herbaceous material). Views from the seat must be preserved at all times. The shrubby plants will benefit from coppicing on a 5-7 year rotation thereafter.

Access

From the area levelled in 2003 to create the entrance a short causeway will need to be formed across the boggy area. It is possible that enough material exists on site to complete this job with the aid of a JCB (contractor or possibly local volunteers)..

Flora

In autumn 2003 500 bluebell and 500 daffodil bulbs were planted, together with 100gm. of wildflower seed mix. Opportunities to increase floral diversity should be taken at all times throughout the management plan period whenever funds permit.

Wildlife

If local enthusiasts can be persuaded to help, observation and recording of species would help focus management practices towards encouragement of appropriate habitat.

Monitoring

A diary of activities on the land should be maintained together with a photographic record of the site as it matures alongside periodic censuses to establish the success rates of the planting phases. A Woodland Management Committee has been formed to make recommendations to the council on all matters relating to property under the control of the council, including the woodland. Current membership is: Ian Kell (chair), Raymond Taylor, Maurice Barnet, Tim Maggs. John Chapman acts as secretary.

Financial

Acknowledgements:

Grant-aid has been provided from the following: £

Voluntary Action Cumbria

South Lakeland DC 60

Kendal Neighbourhood Forum 300

Cumbria Broadleaves (United Utilities Fund) 300

Friends of the Lake District up to 1340

The Hadfield Trust 1000

Public subscription (bench) 150

The Parish Council resolved in 2003 to make available up to £100 towards maintenance costs and out of pocket expenses for the Tree Warden. This will cover such items as weed- killer and materials not covered by specific grants and should be reviewed at the annual budget meeting.

Review

This plan should be reviewed in 2010 and thereafter at 5-yearly intervals.

Appendix 1:

No. Species 2000 ’01 ‘02 ’03 Total

1 / Oak (quercus petraea) / 38 / 143 / 187
2 / Ash (fraxinus excelsior) / 4 / 38 / (’05, 90) / 132
3 / Birch (betula spp) / 16 / 30 / 46
4 / Hawthorn (cratageous monogyna) / 13 / 37 / 15 / 65
5 / Rowan (sorbus aucuparia) / 5 / 23 / 28
6 / Dog Rose (rosa canina) / 17 / 30 / 47
7 / Burnet Rose (rosa spinnossissima) / 15 / 15
8 / Field Rose (rosa arvensis) / 15 / 15
9 / Willow spp / 43 / 9 / 52
10 / Alder (alnus glutinosa) / 40 / 40
11 / Aspen (populus tremula) / 9 / 9
12 / Guelder Rose (viburnum opulus) / 8 / 13 / 21
13 / Elder (sambucus niger) / 25 / 25
14 / Blackthorn (prunus spinosa) / 7 / 7 / 60 / 74
15 / Small-leaved Lime (tillia cordata) / 16 / 1 / 17
16 / Bird-Cherry (prunus padus) / 34 / 34
17 / Wild Cherry /Gean (prunus avium) / 7 / 7
18 / Beech (fagus sylvaticus) / 2 / 3 / 5
19 / Horse Chestnut (aesculus hippocastrum) / 1 / 1 / 2
20 / Whitebeam (sorbus intermedia) / 10 / 10
21 / Hazel (corylus avellana) / 5 / 3 / 60 (’11,25) / 93
22 / Scots Pine (pinus sylvestris) / 3 / 3
23 / Holly (ilex aquifolium) / 10 / 1 / 11
24 / Yew (taxus baccata) / 3 / 1 / 4
25 / Crab Apple (malus sylvestris) / 13 / 13
26 / Purging Buckthorn (rhamnus cathartica) / 15 / 15
27 / Spindle (euonymous europaeus) / 1 / 1
28 / Larch (larix deciduas) / 1 / 1
29 / Wych Elm (ulmus glabra) / (’04)2
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