Published 17/10/2024

Woodlands require active management to truly thrive. While they can grow without intervention, only careful stewardship allows them to provide the myriad benefits that healthy woodlands offer.

A new chapter for Holcot and Reynolds Woods

After years without active managements, we are embarking on an unprecedented journey to restore these woodlands. Our 10-year management plan aligns with UK Forestry Standards, Natural England’s and the Woodland Trust’s guidelines, and has received approval from the Forestry Commission. Through our efforts, we aim to enhance the resilience of these woodlands against pests, diseases, and climate change while promoting biodiversity.

Sharing sustainable practices

One of our key objectives is to showcase contemporary, sustainable forestry practices. By sharing our methodologies, challenges, and costs, we hope to demystify woodland management and inspire other woodland owners to take action. As of 2019, only 59% of woodlands in England were actively managed, highlighting the lost opportunities for economic benefits, increased carbon capture, and enhanced biodiversity.

‘We’re really excited to be beginning the restoration of this locally important woodland. It will give us the opportunity to carry out and showcase a range of woodland management practices, increase the biodiversity, give employment, training and recreation opportunities and work with a range of partners to bring about a successful outcome, preserving the integrity, diversity and makeup of the woodland for future generations to enjoy.’ - Luke Quenby, Community Forester at the Forest of Marston Vale

Funding the restoration

We are thrilled to announce funding support for the first five years of this project from Rebel Restoration. This charity focuses on removing carbon from the atmosphere, enhancing natural ecosystems, and empowering local communities in the UK, making them an ideal partner for our initiative.

The first phase: coppicing hazel

Our restoration project kicked off in September 2024 with the traditional woodland management technique of coppicing Hazel. This method involves cutting trees, or stools as they are known, to ground level and allowing them to regrow with multiple stems for future harvesting on a continual cycle. They will be cut on a 7 – 8 year cycle, with an area of up to 1 acre being cut every Autumn. The oldest coppice stools in the country are over 1000 years old, a truly sustainable practice. The benefits of coppicing include:

• Sustainable Raw Materials: By providing local sources for canes, peasticks, charcoal, and firewood, we reduce the carbon cost associated with importing these materials, which are in short supply in the UK
• Enhancing Biodiversity: Opening up the woodland allows light to filter through, and because of the cyclical approach, creates a mosaic of habitats in a small space, encouraging more diverse ground flora that in turn attracts a variety of insects and birds.
• Creating Diverse Habitats: Coppicing in small compartments results in a mixture of tree ages, creating a wider range of habitats and resident species. Our Hazel will be coppiced on a seven-year cycle, encouraging insects, birds and mammals to move between the compartments, always finding the perfect conditions for a given season.
• Supporting the Local Economy: We are collaborating with local businesses to provide these traditional coppicing skills, promoting rural employment.

Browsing challenges

To mitigate the impact of browsing animals, particularly non-native deer, we are conducting a trial. Half of the coppiced area is being fenced, while the other half will be treated with Trico, an emulsified sheep fat spray designed to deter browsing in a cost-effective and non-intrusive manner. The fencing will be temporary, and will be in place for 1 year, enabling us to move it around the wood with each area that has been cut to protect the first years growth from the effects of browsing. After 2 or 3 years we will be able to decide which method is most effective or continue to use a mixture of both.

Essential tree surgery and thinning

Some essential tree surgery is also taking place as there are a number of trees within the woodlands that are unsafe. This is partly due to the previous lack of woodland management, but also as a result of Ash Dieback disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus). Ash was a popular planting choice in the area and much of the population has succumbed to the disease. By carrying out works to some of the rideside Ash (those next to tracks or areas of open space), it will allow us to manage the inevitable decline but also allow safe access to Holcot Wood. Standing deadwood provides excellent habitat for a range of insects and birds, so the trees will still serve a very important purpose. We will also be coppicing the Ash trees further into the wood before they succumb to the disease and while it is safe to do so. We will be replanting this area with a mixture of native broadleaf trees to increase the diversity of the wood and to allow us to open it up again for recreational enjoyment. Any trees that are showing signs of resisting the disease, will be closely monitored and preserved as a future seed source.

Thinning will also take place throughout the woodland, with up to 30% of the canopy being removed. Again, this is a traditional practice, identifying and removing the weaker and smaller trees, which helps the remaining trees to mature, prevents overcrowding and provides light to the woodland floor and increases the biodiversity, with all of the benefits that we talked above previously.

Revitalising ponds for wildlife

The woodlands’ ponds and surrounding areas will be cleared to improve the ponds’ health – as a healthy pond needs sufficient light and a varied mosaic of vegetation to support the greatest variety of wildlife.

Training future woodland managers

As previously mentioned, we see this project as an opportunity to encourage woodland management and restoration throughout the country. As these traditional practices have declined in recent times there is a real skill shortage, so we are delighted to be working with The Nature Recovery Project (TNRP) to offer a training opportunity. At the beginning of 2025 a trainee scheme will be launched, to teach traditional methods and practices, with this management and restoration project forming the foundation of the scheme.

Throughout the restoration project there will be open days, guided walks and volunteering opportunities to share our experiences and get local communities involved in this exciting project and we’ll be keeping you updated with the different stages as they happen. If you have any questions, do get in touch with our Community Forester, Luke Quenby.