The document provides information on managing woodlands for environmental, social, and economic benefits. It discusses regenerating woodlands, educating communities, ensuring viability and sustainability. It offers guidance on woodland assessments, management plans, funding options, and income generation through timber, woodfuel, recreation, and non-timber forest products. Case studies show examples of community-managed woodlands pursuing different goals like conservation, access, and woodfuel production.
2. What do you want?
• Broadleaf or conifer?
• Species?
• Size?
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3. Future Objectives?
• A woodland fit for a varied
biodiversity?
• Micromanage for a couple of
species?
• A woodland to enjoy?
• A woodland for others to enjoy?
• A woodland that pays its way?
• A woodland that provides a
positive return?
•Have a healthy woodland providing
a variety of benefits?
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4. Income
generation
Everything has a
value and it’s often
greater than we think
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8. What next?
Decided to do something
Get a management plan
Get some grant funding
Start working the
woods
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9. Who will manage the
woodland?
• Self management
• Using an agent
• Ward Forester
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10. Working a woodland
• Biodiversity
• impact reduction
• cost minimisation
• annual growth rate and a sustainable cut
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11. Playing by the rules
• Having a management
plan
• Felling licences
• Replanting
• Certification
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12. Funding
• Woodland Planning Grant
• Woodland Management
Grant
• Woodfuel Improvement
Grant
• Woodland Planting Grant
• Farming and Forestry
Improvement Scheme / REG
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13. Community Woodland
Case Studies
• Silvanus Trust were commissioned by Forest Research
(FR) to carry out four case studies of community
woodlands in the SW
• Part of larger FR work to create a typology of community
woodlands in Britain
• Examples of community woodlands; differing
management aims, management methods, products
harvested & income generation
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14. Rookwood – Honiton, Devon
Community & Woodland
• Woodland is adjacent to a block of flats, both of which are
owned by Devon & Cornwall Housing
• Since 2010 has been managed by the Rookwood
Association; residents association, inexperienced
• 0.2ha, mixed broadleaves with sycamore taking over, very
dark & oppressive, poor access to and within site
• Canopy has been opened up, non-natives removed &
natives planted
Management Aims
• Basic management plan
• Managed to improve light levels in flats and access for
residents
• Improve biodiversity value
info@silvanus.org.uk 01752 846400
15. Rookwood – Honiton, Devon
How is it managed?
• Residents carry out small management tasks
themselves e.g. path clearance, tree planting, creation
of habitat piles
• TCV have been employed to install bat and bird boxes,
practical management and have provided advice
• Contractors are employed for
any tree felling and larger
scale work e.g. laying of new
paths
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16. Rookwood – Honiton, Devon
Products & income
• Woodfuel
• Compost
• Fruit & Nuts
• Grants from Devon & Cornwall
Housing and local council
• Donations
• Fundraising activities
info@silvanus.org.uk 01752 846400
17. Oakfrith Wood – Urchfont, Wiltshire
Community & Woodland
• Woodland has been managed by a Friends of group with
many experienced members since 1994 & was until recently
owned by Wiltshire Council
• 14ha of ASNW designated as LNR, beech dominated with
areas of oak, ash & hazel
• When taken over was fairly neglected with an area of dense
douglas fir
Management Aims
• Detailed management plan
• Improve management of woodland for wildlife conservation,
public access, recreation
• Act as an educational resource for promoting best practice
in woodland management
• Woodfuel & timber production
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18. Oakfrith Wood – Urchfont, Wiltshire
How is it managed?
•Friends of group carry out most work including path
clearance, installation of bird boxes, pond creation & tree
planting.
•Woodfuel co-operative (fully trained and certified
chainsaw operators) carry out
thinning and other felling
•Management decisions have
been guided by Wiltshire Council
& professional advisors
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19. Oakfrith Wood – Urchfont, Wiltshire
Products & Income
•Woodfuel (discount for woodfuel co-op members)
•Timber
•Grants, donations, sponsorship
•Woodland used by other groups who
contribute financially & sometimes
help with management eg. green
woodworker, forest school
To view the full four sw England case studies
and a set of case studies from Scotland, please
visit the news page of the Forest Research website:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-8Y2BS8
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20. Help
• Silvanus
• Forestry Commission
• Small Woods Association
• SW Directory
• Ward forester
info@silvanus.org.uk
01752 846400