What is woodland management?

Our woodlands are an important part of Hampshire’s countryside, making up almost 20% of our landscape. Mammals, birds and many species of native plant make their homes in them, and we enjoy spending time in them. They’re also incredibly important in reducing the effects of climate change, as they can store millions of tonnes of carbon. Because of this, it’s vital that we take care of them and protect them for the future. When out and about in the countryside, you might see our rangers trimming branches or removing trees and wonder why. While it might sometimes seem counterintuitive, their work is part of woodland management and is beneficial to the health of the woodland.

Why do we manage woodlands?

Woodland management techniques have been around for centuries. Historically, people would do this for timber and firewood. There’s been a significant decline in the number of people with these skills, meaning that lots of woodlands have been neglected.

Within the UK, there are different types of woodland. Here are some of the types you can find in Hampshire:

Ancient woodland: In England and Wales, ancient woodlands can be traced back to the 17th Century. This is when maps became more accurate and reliable. There are two types of ancient woodland: ancient semi-natural woodland and plantations on ancient woodland sites.

Ancient semi-natural woodland: Ancient semi-natural woodlands grew naturally and were used for timber. These are primarily made of native tree species that weren’t deliberately planted.

Plantations on ancient woodland sites: Plantations on ancient woodland sites are woodlands where the trees have been felled, and non-native trees have been replanted in their place. This largely occurred after World War One to provide a source of timber. They can affect the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the original ancient woodland. Broadleaved woodland: Broadleaved woodlands are made up of trees without needles, like oak, beech, and maple. The large variety of these trees means that there are many types of broadleaved woodland in the UK. Each type of woodland supports unique ecosystems and contributes to the overall biodiversity of the area.

Unmanaged woodlands that were once used for timber can develop an even-aged structure. This means that all the trees are at the same life-stage and size. As these trees grow tall, their canopies block out light, hindering the growth of younger trees. This structure reduces habitat variety and diversity. In contrast, an uneven woodland structure, with trees of different ages, offers more habitats for different animals and allows smaller plants to thrive.

How do we help our trees?

Here are some key woodland management terms you need to know:

Coppicing: Coppicing is an ancient woodland management technique where a tree is cut down to its stump, or “stool”. The tree will then grow new shoots from either the stump itself, or from the roots of the tree. This technique was traditionally used to provide straight pieces of wood for a variety of purposes like firewood, fencing, and materials for tools and furniture. Nowadays, coppicing is used to allow more sunlight and water to reach plants in the lower layers of the woodland. This helps to support and enhance woodland biodiversity.

Pollarding: Pollarding is a form of pruning that involves removing branches from the tops of trees to encourage new growth. It was originally used to provide fodder for livestock. Pollarding helps control the size of the tree, encourages a dense canopy, and can extend the tree's lifespan. It’s also used in many urban areas to stop trees getting too big, but it can be expensive as the process needs to be repeated every 3-5 years.

Thinning: Thinning is the removal of trees in a woodland. When lots of trees are growing close to one another, they’re in competition with each other for sunlight, nutrients and space. The dense canopy of a woodland also stops smaller plants from getting sunlight. Thinning the woodland means that the remaining trees have less competition, and sunlight can reach saplings and smaller plants on the woodland floor.

What else is involved?

A survey must be carried out before any activity can begin. This involves identifying species, both plants and animals, living in the woodland to ensure disturbances to their habitats are minimised.

Some of the survey findings can be communicated by different markings and dots painted onto the tree trunks. In some cases, dots or markings will be used to indicate the height trees need to be cut back to, or if the tree needs to be cut down. Or they may instead indicate that a tree needs to be left alone as work goes on around it. This may be because a certain tree species plays an important role in the ecology of the area. While the meaning of these markings varies across sites, they are there to ensure that woodland management is carried out correctly.

Another key part of woodland management is the removal of invasive non-native species. They grow quickly and easily outcompete our native woodland plants, cause damage to riverbanks, and some species can even be harmful to animals. Conversely, part of woodland management can also involve leaving seemingly messy areas of fallen trees and dead wood alone. Decaying wood gives nutrients back to the soil, providing food and habitats of animals and encouraging fungi species.

Woodland management can also involve planting young trees or other plants. A woodland might have lost a native species as the canopy became denser. To help restore the woodland to more closely resemble its former natural state, plants that once thrived there can be reintroduced.

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