Woodland Management Strategy

Management of the site is linked into an extensive management plan drawn up by the reserve manager and regularly updated. The emphasis has been on the conservation of the rare species, the diversity and range of species and habitats present with some attempted rare habitat recreation.

Sympathetic low-level constant management efforts are preferred over large scale changes at this site. Much of the woodland work is enabled by the use of forestry horses and “horse-logging” techniques. Ideally, management work would never be noticed and neither would significant changes occur. This is a simple ideal in a complicated situation and changes are pervasive, inevitable and inexorable.

The management takes account of the best ecological knowledge available and attempts to blend simple, common-sense, traditional work methods with up-to-date science and technology.

As the warden has managed the site over 18 years now changes over time are becoming evident. All too often in the land management world it is easy to ascribe positive outcomes from short-term interevention on the part of the management team. Obviously cutting trees down removes trees - not necessarily true. Controlling "vermin" reduces the wildlife encountered - not necessarily true. Planting trees is good for conservation, and is required in good woodland management - again not necessarily true! What is true is that as many of the trees in Foxcombe have aged the woods have taken on a different, perhaps less intimate feel (particularly in the winter). The impact of muntjac is these days very noticeable indeed and as their numbers have increased the bramble understorey of the wood has declined. Similarly as the numbers of roe deer have increased the seedling and sapling generations of new trees have been less evident.

Rowans and silver birches are renowned as short-lived trees. In Foxcombe we have a number of "over-mature" trees of both species but increasinlgy, as we experience significant gales, we lose these older trees, usually tumbling over at their inadequate roots. Having said that we do have one of the biggest, most massive silver birch trees in the whole country. Our "Lady of the Woods" is both hugley tall and massively spreading. She shows her age in a very gnarled bark and various elements of dieback and regression. Fortunately she is protected by surrounding, sheltering trees and may well see many of us out!

"The Lady of the Woods"

"The Old Man of the Woods" our ancient (400 yrs) boundary marker oak

- field grown and pollarded historically

An "ancient limb" on a silver birch tree - the result of a twisting stress

fracture. In management terms best left where safe as vitally important

bat habitat. Non-inervention or passive management is often the best approach

for wildlife and habitat value. (In woodland this is the case for woodland

specialists, but where wildlife is more dependent on rideside vegetation or

other non-woodland habitat then active management is usually the order of

the day).

The Greenwood group pole lathe turning near the skeletal Iron Age'ish Roundhouse 2006

Various bat boxes adorn an oak tree

Can you spot this tree?