Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodland LBAP


	WELCOME TO CHESHIRE BIODIVERSITY PART OF THE CHESHIRE REGION BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

ANCIENT SEMI-NATURAL BROADLEAVED WOODLANDS
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated SAPs

Bluebell, Dormouse, Stag beetle

Current Status

What is an Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland?

Ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNWs) are woods that have persisted in the landscape since the Middle Ages, from a date of approximately 1600AD and continuity of a woodland on a site since around this date determines whether it is classed as ancient.
Some ASNWs may have been felled several times, so species composition and the size of the trees present does not necessarily prove a site to be ancient. In fact some ASNWs may have been replanted with plantations of conifers and may not initially appear to be ancient woodland areas.
The date 1600 is taken as an indicator because it marks the time when map evidence began to become more widespread and also when the planting of new woodlands occured more frequently.

Why are Ancient Semi-Natural Woodlands important?

ASNW is an important part of our natural heritage, as such areas usually contain a diverse array of animal and plant species, many of which are unique to such sites and which also represent the remaining link to the original 'wildwoods', which once covered most of England. Consequently the variety of woodland structure may be diverse and might incorporate pockets of species rich heathland, grassland and marsh within the overall area of woodland.

How is Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland identified?

There are several ways of determining whether a woodland is likely to be ancient and these include the following:

The name - wood", "dingle", "coppice" and "clough" are some of the key names to look out for.

Map features - Irregular boundaries, sites on parish boundaries or along steep slopes and narrow river tributaries are also good indicators that a wood may be ancient.

Plant species - There are a number of plant species that can indicate whether a site may be ASNW. Some plants are better indicators than others and the more there are in any one wood, the more likely it is to be ancient.

Existing information - Current information, such as the English Nature ancient woodland inventory can be used to identify ASNW sites.

What is the extent of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland in the Cheshire region?

The Cheshire region has only 4% woodland cover, which includes both ancient and secondary woodland (woodland planted after 1600). This figure is less than half the national average for a typical county. Of the woodland that is present, less than 1% comprises of ASNW.Circa 1920 there was 1,789ha of ancient woodland in the Cheshire region, 424ha of this being plantation (NCC 1988). By 1997 there was 1,681ha of ancient woodland in the Cheshire region, 1,263ha being ancient semi-natural woodland. 102ha has been cleared since c1920 (English Nature 1997). Most sites are less than 10ha and 65% are less than 5ha (NCC 1988).

Threats

Lack of knowedge and awareness
- Insufficient knowledge of the location and extent of ASNW sites can often lead to problems and sites may be lost to development or felled and converted to agricultural uses.
- Planning decisions have often been made without considering the impacts they could have on adjacent ASNW sites and until recently 'buffer zones' were not encouraged between developments and ancient woodlands, leading to damage to woodland edge habitat and the tree roots that can radiate from the woods for considerable distance.
- Allowing fragmentation to occur, leaving small pockets of isolated woodland can have a detrimental effect and does not allow natural species distribution and continuity of the habitat to occur.
- Senescence of ASNW sites, although natural, can cause decline in the 'quality' of a site, especially where the area is particularly small and senescent trees can therefore make up a large percentage of the overall tree cover, especially if regeneration is in some way restricted under current management I mis-management regimes
Inappropriate management

Sometimes ASNW sites are inappropriately managed and over the years many have been felled and replanted with non-native conifer species, used for the production of commercial timber.
Other sites may have had inappropriate species introduced, such as rhododendron, which can rapidly spread through a wood and impede or exclude the growth of existing diverse ground flora.

Intentional damage and vandalism

Activities such as fly tipping can pose a major threat to ASNW sites, especially if the waste contains harmful materials or garden refuse (which can contain seed or rooted plants). Garden waste can prove particularly harmful, as it can lead to the introduction of non-native plants into sensitive ASNW areas, This activity often occurs at sites adjacent to roads and buildings.
ASNW areas frequently used by children and teenagers can sometimes suffer damage as a result of their activities, whether intentional or not. Areas where children play often become denuded of ground flora and some woods suffer deliberate damage to trees

How are we helping to conserve ancient woodland in the Cheshire region?

Planning and Policy.
- Reviewing planning policy documents and national forestry strategies and commenting with a view to promoting the retention and good management of ASNWs.
- Applying statutory powers to protect sites. This includes the monitoring of planning applications that may affect ASNW and responding as necessary.
- The LBAP group are working to ensure that local plans will ensure that no ASNW sites will be lost to future planning applications.
- The LBAP group are pursuing the need for all local authorities to accept a policy statement of "no further loss" concerning ASNWs.
Direct Action.
- Providing general support and advice about grant aid and other sources of practical help for landowners seeking to manage ASNW .
- Continue the development and support of tree nurseries containing tree stock of local origin, such as the ones currently in place at Marbury Country Park and Norley.
- Continued liaison with other LBAP action groups, for species that relate to the ASNW LBAP
- Promoting and advising on the purchase of appropriate land for creating extensions and links with existing ASNW sites.
- Promoting the Forestry Commission Woodland Grant Scheme to interested landowners, to allow them to secure funds to help maintain ASNW sites.
- Support of local volunteer groups in managing ASNWs and supporting events and activities, such as National Tree Week and BTCV Woodland Action Week.
- Developing and assisting with funding proposals to support the LBAP implementation process.
- Providing training days and talks to interested landowners and groups, to raise awareness of ASNW and the need for its conservation and management.
Survey and data gathering
- Continuing the development of an updated inventory of ASNW sites in the Cheshire region.
- Continuing to support the work carried out under the Discovering Cheshire's Forgotten Woodland Project and to pursue funding for further work.
- To assist with providing help and information for other LBAP survey work, which may link with ASNW habitat
- To assist with determining the suitability of land for ASNW extension, by providing advice on the suitability of the proposed sites.
Partners and Liaison
- Continue to work closely with other conservation and land management organisations, in order to promote good practice in managing ASNWs.
- To liaise with contractors and landowners where ASNW sites are to be subjected to woodland management operations and to ensure that operations will not conflict with the needs of wildlife or reduce the quality of the ASNW.
- To work with the Forestry Authority to take forward their Jigsaw Challenge Scheme, which is aimed at linking or extending ASNW sites
- Continue to utilise and contribute to the services of large scale biodiversity networks and projects, such as the Cheshire County Council Life ECOnet project and the Cheshire regional record centre (rECOrd).
- Continue liaison with community groups that are involved with conservation work within specific ASNW sites and to encourage group members to pursue training and development in order to incorporate them into decision making and management process

Objectives and Local Targets

OBJECTIVES	LOCAL TARGETS
To identify all ancient semi-natural woodland sites, of whatever size, in the Cheshire region.	Secure support and funding to extend ASNW survey to woodlands less than 2ha.
	Plot all survey data onto GIS by 2006 to show current extent of identified ancient semi-natural woodland habitat.
To protect all ancient semi-natural woodlands in the Cheshire region.	Maintain current extent of 1,263 ha of ancient semi-natural woodland.
	Get all local authorities to include a policy of no further loss to development of ancient semi-natural woodland in the next revision of their local, structure or development plan.
To extend and link fragmented ancient semi-natural woodland habitat with new native broadleaved woodland in the Cheshire region.	Establish 50 ha of new native woodland habitat by 2005 to link and buffer existing areas of ancient semi-natural woodland, including Alvanley Copse, Bank Farm, Wheeldon Copse, Brereton Farm and Village Wood.
To restore degraded ancient woodland and plantations on ancient sites in the Cheshire region.	Restore 10 ha of plantations on ancient woodland sites to semi-natural character by 2008.
	Bring an additional 10 ha of ancient semi-natural woodland into management plan by 2008.
To promote education and awareness in order to encourage responsible attitudes towards conserving ancient and ancient semi-natural woodlands.	Produce information boards to raise awareness of conservation and management issues for ancient and ancient semi-natural woodlands during 2004-5.
	Hold/support event to engage landowners in ancient woodland conservation, management and extension during 2005.

Actions Required

Pursue further funding opportunities for survey and identification of further ASNW sites.
Pursue additional support of new native woodland planting due to end of FC Jigsaw grant.
Organise and support events promoting ASNW conservation.
Produce information boards promoting conservation of ASNW for use at events and other opportunities.

Planning and Policy

To encourage the full implementation of the UK Forestry Standard, Note 5.
Continued input into local policy documents and national woodland strategies, to improve the protection of ASNW along with the application of statutory measures.
To continue to monitor and respond to planning applications, where there is any likelihood that ASNW sites could be adversely affected by the proposed developments.
Ensure that ancient woodland is prioritised within the implementation of Woodland Grant Schemes (Forestry Authority).
Support and comment on the production of long term management plans, such as the Forestry Commission Forest Plan schemes.

Direct Action

To continue the promotion of the Forestry Authority Jigsaw Challenge scheme.
To continue to support managers and landowners tmough the provision of information on grants and management techniques, including natural regeneration.
To continue to seek funds to support the LBAP process, through both national and local initiatives and grant schemes.
Aim to raise the awareness of the important issues concerning ASNW amongst landowners, land managers and members of the public.
Promote the creation of new native woodland based on appropriate guidelines. This can help to reduce the current threat of habitat fragmentation.
Continue the development of tree nurseries containing stock from locally sourced tree seed (local provenance) and which is appropriate for replanting / regeneration work in areas of degraded ASNW.
Where necessary, to provide advice to contractors about 'best practice' within ASNW sites.

Survey and data gathering / dissemination.

To investigate the possibility of compiling a Cheshire region database of ASNW sites, with relevant information about each site and with the consent of owners. This will then act as a valuable tool in working to promote good practice and in targeting future work and funding opportunities.
To continue to locate and survey the ASNW resource in the Cheshire region, especially sites of less than 2ha in size (due to their intentional omission from earlier national English Nature survey) through the 'Discovering Cheshire's Forgotten Woodlands' project and to use the results to create an updated inventory of ASNW sites.
Highlight species which can be used as indicators of ASNW in the Cheshire region and can be expected to flourish if the habitat is managed conectly

Partners and Liaison

Continue to develop co-ordinated woodland acquisition between conservation bodies and to actively pursue opportunities for purchasing ancient woodland or land adjacent to it.
Continue to liaise and further develop links between other LBAP groups which relate to ASNW habitat, as this will help ensure a co-ordinated approach is made to utilising time and resources and in implementing species and habitat management plans. Other LBAPs relevant to ASNW include bluebell, dormouse, stag beetle etc.
Promote opportunities to manage woods for the production of timber, which help to ensure ASNW habitat is not degraded

Progress so far

2004 Action Completed

Established 15 ha of new native woodland habitat linking and buffering existing ASNW
Continued promotion of Forestry Commission Jigsaw Challenge Grant to link and buffer ASNW
Pursued further funding opportunities for survey and identification of further ASNW sites and additional support of new native woodland planting
Produced and distributed ‘Ancient Woodlands in the Cheshire region’ leaflet providing information and advice to owners and those with an interest in ASNW
Supported successful events by the Woodland Trust and FWAG promoting the ASNW BAP.

1997- 2003 Action Completed

Planning and Policy
- Formation of LBAP action group for ASNW.
- Adopted the principles of the Cheshire County Council Woodland Strategy.
- Reviewed policies contained within Cheshire 2011 Replacement Structure Plan and Halton UDP. Made appropriate comments to ensure that ASNW issues were addressed and appropriate policies promoted
- Work continues with the checking of planning applications to ensure the quality of current sites are not likely to be compromised by new developments.
Direct Action
- An application was recently made to the Heritage Lottery Fund to secure funds to implement further ASNW survey work and to support project co-ordination and to help implement practical work throughout the region.
- Several schemes have now been implemented under the Jigsaw Challenge scheme and success has led to the Jigsaw area being extended to cover all of Cheshire.
- A leaflet has been produced for landowners of ASNW explaining the importance of the habitat and which has been circulated to those who participated in the 'Discovering Cheshire's Forgotten Woodlands' project.
- Continued success in the Dane Valley area, by BTCV, building on the previous figure of 400 days practical work in the ancient woodlands of that area.
- Acquisition of existing woodland and land suitable for woodland creation, by LBAP partner organisations and advising and assisting other individuals and organisations about similar purchases and subsequent management.
- Established 30 ha of new native woodland habitat linking and buffering existing ancient semi-natural woodland in 2003.
Survey and data gathering I dissemination.
- 128 possible ancient woodland sites have been researched through the 'Discovering Cheshire's Forgotten Woodlands' Project' and full botanical surveys have been carried out in 62.
- Circulation of information about ancient woodland indicator species relevant to the Cheshire region.
- Pursuing the possibilities of funding future surveys in order to work to complete detailed survey of ASNW sites throughout the Cheshire region, including sites under 2ha, which were omitted from earlier English Nature survey work.
Partners and liaison
- Working with private landowners to implement appropriate management operations in existing ASNW sites and to liaise over the preparation of management plans and in the submission of grant applications where necessary.
- Continued co-operation between organisations already involved in the LBAP process and to encourage partnership working where appropriate.
- Where necessary, the promotion of relevant grant schemes to assist landowners towards getting their ASNW sites into favourable condition. For example, promoted Forestry Commission Jigsaw Challenge Grant in 2003.
- To help local conservation volunteer groups to acquire some of the skills necessary to manage woodlands in which they have an involvement, such as the promotion of training courses and woodland management events.

How to find out more about Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodland

Read the ‘Ancient Woodlands in the Cheshire region’ leaflet
The Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan for Woodlands can be seen at www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/wood.htm
UK BAP for Upland Oakwood - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=1
UK BAP for Upland Mixed Ashwoods - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=3
UK BAP for Wet Woodland - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=4
Woodland Trust 5 year Ancient Tree Hunt - www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk

Contact details

LBAP Chair	Ian Aldred, Cheshire County Council Phone 01244 603162 Fax 01244 603125
National Lead Partners	Forestry Commission
National Contact	Gordon Patterson, Forestry Commission Phone: 01313 346464 Ruth Jenkins, Forestry Commission Wales

References & Glossary

Coombs, E.L. and Weeks, L.J. (1996): 'Discovering Cheshire's Forgotten Woodlands' Project, Cheshire Wildlife Trust (unpublished).
Isaac D. Reid, C. (1997): Amendments to the Ancient Woodland Inventory for England, English Nature Research Reports No. 222, English Nature, Peterborough.
English Nature (1998): UK Biodiversity Group Tranches 2 Action Plans, Volume II - terrestrial and freshwater habitats.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.
Nature Conservancy Council (1988): Cheshire Inventory of Ancient Woodland (Provisional), NCC, Peterborough.
Rodwell, J and Patterson, G (1994): Bulletin 112: Creating New Native Woodlands, HMSO, London.