Presentation from West Weald Landscape Project Conference 22 May 2014

1. South Downs National Park
Forestry Partnership, Heathlands Reunited and Woodland Bats Project
EmilyBrennan,BiodiversityStrategyLead

2. South Downs Forestry Partnership
• 3 year project (jointly funded)
• Partnership with Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust, Sussex Wildlife
Trust and the South Downs National Park Authority.

3. Project Aims
• Establish the condition and ownership of the woods within the National Park
•Map and conserve habitats with priority woodland species
•Workwith project partnersand land owners to develop continuous management of woodland inparticular PAWS
•Deliver a joint package of targeted advice and support for landowners and local businesses
• Stimulate a local woodland business networkby linkinglandowners with local enterprises
•Reinvigoratethe ‘wood culture’of the South Downs National Park.

4. Project Outcomes
•Confirmed mapped data of woodland ownership, managementand keysites of biodiversity
•Using GIS data for a targeted approach to owner engagement
• Greater uptake of woodland management schemes
• Increasedpublic awareness of the benefits of woodland management for conservation and biodiversity
• Vibrant woodland based enterprisenetwork
•Well managed woodland and a vibrant woodland economy becoming an integral feature of theNational Park
identity.
•Pride in a thriving‘wood culture’.

5. Progresstodate GIS mapping ofwoodland ownership
Total area of woodland 37,238ha(NFI
data)
38,420haincludingwoods under2ha

6. Priority Woodlands
Total areas not in stewardship:
PAWS= 1,865ha
BOA = 6,801ha
SAC = 852ha
SSSI = 1,641ha
SINC = 3,757ha

7. Local Forest EnterpriseDatabase
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of thelocal supply
chain.
• Identified over 90woodland orientated businesses within the
SDNP to date
• Facilitate better links between raw timber supply, processors
and end users.

8. Next Steps
•Environmental: Continue to develop the GIS mapping of woodland
Prioritise PAWS restoration and woodland with EPS species
•Economic: Facilitate the online database of local enterprises with
myForest
Host a Business Skills Development Course for coppice sector
Explore options for an apprenticeship scheme
• Social: Engage with the Grown In Britain Initiative
Wests Woodfair – exhibit local woodland enterprises
Timber construction in the local vernacular.

9. Heathlands Reunited
Project Aims
•Bigger –expanded areas of heathland
•Better – enhanced, sustainably managed heaths
•Moreheathland sites
•Improved ecological connectivity of heathland
sites
•Stronger linkswith local communitiesand more
responsible use of heathlands

10. Project Map

11. Heathland Opportunity
Mapping

12. Progresstodate
• South Downs Heathland Landscape Partnership set up and expanded
• Extensive research, evidence gathering and communityengagement
workdelivered
• External fundingstreams explored and evaluated
• HLFHeritage Grantapplication initially submitted August 2012
• First application unsuccessful however bud revised andresubmitted
October 2013,and fundingapproved
• Funding of £1.6mconditionally secured from HLF; development phase
started April2014and delivery phasedue to begin mid to late 2015.

13. Development PhaseActions
• Carryout audit of heathland interpretation
• Develop a skills trainingprogramme
• Engage with heathland owners and local communities
• Draw up formal agreements with partnersand landowners
• Carryout furtherhabitat modelling
• UndertakePhase 1 habitat surveywork
• Corridorsurvey using GIS
• Site user surveyand assessment of learning and participation
needs of currentand newaudiences.

14. Delivery PhaseActions
People
• Develop a suite of interpretation materials
• Deliver a series of engaging events
• Deliver learningand outreach programmes
• Hold workshops on land management skills
• Provide trainingand support for local groups
Heritage
• Carryout heathland restoration
• Improvethe age structureof vegetation
• Introduceextensive grazing
• Expand and linkheathland sites
• Machinerypurchasee.g. biomass baler
• Invasivespecies management e.g. rhododendron

15. South Downs Woodland BatsProject
Project Aim: To conserveand enhancepopulations of woodland bat species by restoring a network of high-
quality bat habitats across the project area

16. ProjectMap

17. Priorityhabitats
Semi-naturalwoodland
Veteran trees
Hedgerows
Buildings suitable for roosts
Bat foraging habitat e.g. floodplain
grassland, field margins
Potential partners
National Trust(lead)
SDNPA, Wildlife Trusts, BCT,local bat
experts, Woodland Trust,landowners,
Biodiversity Records Centres, NE, FC