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The following is a short summary of the habitat type and how to create/enhance it to a "good" condition. For an informed position, please refer to official up-to-date Government guidance or the UK Government's Condition Assessment Sheet.
⚠️ Important Notes
Please note that Yew is treated as a broadleaved tree by convention.
It's important to make sure that the Scots pine isn't native
Coniferous woodland dominated by Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), which is not relict indigenous Scot's Pine forest. Can also include Birches, Rowan, Alder, Willows and Bird Cherry.
Key Species: Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Can also include Birches, Rowan, Alder, Willows and Bird Cherry.
How to Create / Enhance to a "Good" condition
Refer to the Guide for Planning New Woodland in England. You should also read Government guidance on planning decisions when there are ancient woodland, ancient trees or veteran trees on or near a proposed development site.
Refer to this guide (non-Government) for ideas of the cost of creation
How to get a "moderate" rating
In a management plan aiming to achieve a ‘moderate’ condition, the plan will show:
80% or more of the woodland canopy will be formed of coniferous trees.
At least two different age classes of trees (young, intermediate and/or old) will be found across the woodland once the habitat has developed. This will be achieved through appropriate species selection and appropriate management for at least 30 years. This recognises that different tree species mature at different ages. For example:
Oak: young trees 0-20yrs, intermediate trees 21-150yrs and >150yrs for old trees
Birch: young trees 0-20yrs, intermediate 21-60yrs and >60yrs for old trees
There will be a minimum of two woodland storeys (layers) of trees and shrubs. These will be a canopy layer of taller trees and an understorey of smaller trees or shrubs.
Woodland shall be allowed to regenerate through appropriate management like selective thinning or coppicing (a traditional method of cutting back).
At least five native tree species will occupy more than 80% of the total canopy area.
The management regime will ensure the site remains free from invasive non-native species (INNS), such as rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum spp) and cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and species listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (as amended).
Steps will be taken to prevent significant damage from wild, domestic and feral animals (i.e. browsing damage).
The management regime will ensure most trees are always in healthy condition due to appropriate best practice management, including disease prevention and removal of obviously diseased trees.
Deadwood (such as standing deadwood, fallen deadwood or dead branches) or small cavities in trees will be allowed to accrue until it can be found in at least 25% of the parcel.
Source: Natural England
How to get a "good rating"
In addition to the characteristics for moderate condition, to get a ‘good’ condition the plan will include these features:
Once deadwood has accrued in over 25% of the parcel, this will be allowed to increase by having a regime that doesn't clear away dead trees and branches that naturally form (unless caused by a disease). Felled trees and brash piles will be left in place. The plan is to ensure that at least 50% of the whole woodland area has deadwood and small cavities in living trees.
The ground vegetation layer will be made up of characteristic, native woodland wildflowers and other plants.
Two of the below should also be chosen (based on a competent person's advice)
Steps will be taken to ensure that there is no nutrient enrichment or damaged ground such as soil compaction from machinery, trampling, animal poaching or litter. (Signs of nutrient enrichment which will be used to monitor this include dominance of species such as common nettle Urtica dioica, cleavers Galium aparine or thistles Cirsium spp.
Steps will be taken to ensure that there is a diverse woodland ground flora made up of 100% native species, including a range of characteristic ancient woodland ground flora. For example, English bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, wild garlic Allium ursinum, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, red campion Silene dioica, hard fern Blechnum spicant and hart’s tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium.
Steps will be taken to ensure that there are three or more storeys in the woodland, including upper canopy, middle, shrub and ground layer.
Steps will be taken to ensure veteran trees are maintained.
Source: Natural England
Useful Resources
Guide 1: Gov.uk - A guide to planning new woodland in England
Guide 2: Gov.uk - The UK Forestry Standard
Guide 3: Forestry Commission - Managing ancient and native woodland in England
Guide 4: Woodland Trust - Woodland Creation Guide
Guide 5: Woodland Trust - Managing your new woodland
Guide 6: Woodland Trust - Tree species handbook. A technical guide for practitioners
Please note that this is a simple guide to help identify the habitat. For a definitive description, please refer to UKHab documentation. Joe's Blooms takes no responsibility for the content of external links.