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| Nightingale Wood Potential Projects |
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| 1.
Widen rides, particularly
to restore heather Create one or two wide scallops along
each ride. Scallops should be at least as wide as two times the height of
the canopy trees, if not more. Scallops and pinch points should be features
of the ride to create pockets of maximum light and warmth within the ride
(see Fig. 1) and reduce wind throw.
Consider widening rides: to be of most benefit to wildlife (e.g. ground
flora, butterflies, reptiles), light should reach the ground of a ride for
as much of the day as possible. A ride should be as wide as an average of at
least 2 times the height of the trees. Rides situated east-west receive more
light than those situated north-south. Sinuous, rather than straight, rides
also help reduce wind throw.
Between three and four vegetation ‘zones’ should be managed along the ride
to increase diversity and warmth within the woodland, from short grassland
in the centre (cut once or twice annually as necessary), through tall herbs
(cut every 2-3 years on a rotation), to a thicker bramble and scrub layer at
the edge of the main woodland (see Fig. 2) (cut on a rotation every 3-4
years). |
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2. Create wide glade to promote heather,
other flora, butterflies, bees and reptiles
Cut back and coppice young birch scrub area to create a permanent open
glade. To let in as much light and warmth as possible, to encourage a range
of woodland flora and other wildlife, the width of the glade should be at
least twice that of the height of the trees.
Manage between three and four vegetation ‘zones’ around the glade (as for
rides), from short grassland in the centre, through tall herbs and bramble
to a thicker understorey scrub layer at the edge of the main woodland,
increasing diversity, and warmth within the woodland.
A further glade could be created around the junction where the rides meet. |
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3. Eradicate Rhododendron
As a matter of priority, cut back rhododendron Treat cut stumps with an
appropriate herbicide (e.g. Roundup Bi-Active) to deter regrowth; paint
diluted herbicide directly onto stumps to avoid affecting surrounding
vegetation.
Spray any foliage regrowth (again Roundup is a suitable herbicide) in the
first year after stump cutting before the leaves get too waxy.
Rhododendron can be particularly invasive in woodland, especially on sandy
acidic soils, such as are present in Nightingale wood. It can dominate and
reduce diversity of other species, creating a dense understorey, under which
little else can survive. |
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4. Open glade around pond
Cut back and pollard/coppice some trees around the small old field pond at
the edge of the wood, to allow in more light. Trees and scrub on the south
and east sides of the pond should be focused on, with some on the north and
west sides left, maintaining the character of a woodland pond and providing
habitat for woodcock.
Ideally, a glade opened up as wide as twice the height of the canopy should
be managed around the south and east sides of this feature, with zones of
vegetation providing habitat for a range of wildlife, including amphibians
and reptiles as well as butterflies and dragonflies. |
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5. Consider restoring coppice cycle to
sweet chestnut coppice
In the long-term, consider restoring coppice cycle to area of denser sweet
chestnut and birch coppice at the southern edge. |
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