Unit 1 - 4.1 - Explain the sustainability of current and historic woodland management techniques in your area

The woodland we are using for our Forest School is situated in the parish of Binfield, Berkshire. The woodland in this area was secured in 1066 by William the Conqueror. He decided to take up residence in the area and built Windsor Castle. He chose the area due to its surrounding grasslands. The name Binfield is believed to have come from the old English words Benetfeld, which means 'open land where bent grass grows'.

Our school is next to Newbold College and it's grounds. The college was previously a 19th century country house and formal garden called Moor Close. It was built by an architect called Oliver Hill and was his first commission. It is now used for student accommodation and as an educational facility.

The land is divided into several sections, one part of which is a grade II listed garden built by Charles Birch Crisp, to commemorate the birth of his youngest daughter. This garden leads onto a small area of woodland that we plan to use for our Forest School activities.

The area that we plan to use for Forest School is managed by a dedicated team who are employed by Newbold College. There is evidence of thinning. There is a cleared pathway that circles the area but the trees are densely populated and there are some invasive shrubs like Laurel. The area is hardly used except by the school children as a outdoor learning area.

Why is it important to manage woodland?

Conservation 

According to Imperial College's I-SCIENCE magazine  'Conservationists estimate that more than half of Britain’s plant and animal species are in decline. A report launched two years ago by Sir David Attenborough found that endangered species have declined by almost 60% since the 1970s.' 

Therefore, we can see that woodland management is vitally important for the maintenance and protection of wildlife. If we are able to manage the woodland effectively we are able to ensure that wildlife is maintained and even perhaps enhanced.

The management of woodlands also incorporates the protection of the trees from species such as deer and squirrels. These animals can be very destructive in woodlands, as they strip trees of their bark when locating food. Therefore, woodland management ensures the survival of the trees and in turn, the animals and insects that rely on those trees for survival.

The management of ancient woodlands is also extremely important. Ancient woodlands have been in existence since the 1600's and are a rare treasure these days. Only 2.5% of the UK is currently covered in ancient woodlands. These woodlands have been left undisturbed by humans and therefore carry a unique and diverse community of plants, fungi and insects. 

Health 

Another important reason to manage woodland effectively is so that we can create areas of tranquility and beauty. These pockets of woodlands allow us to reconnect with nature and help us to learn about our environment. According to the RSPB, research suggests that people with a greater connection to nature are more likely to behave positively towards the environment, wildlife and habitats.

With the ever increasing demand for housing and infrastructure in our cities and towns, we have to travel further and further to find places of peace and calm. Many small woodland areas are under-managed which, not only reduces the variety of wildlife, but also restricts our access to places of exercise and relaxation.

Education and Jobs

Woodlands and forests can also provide valuable jobs, resources and products. Woodlands can be used to grow timber for example, as well as providing an environment for outdoor pursuit activities. It can also offer valuable environmental education opportunities.

 

      

                         

 

According to the Woodland Trust walking in the woods is a great way to improve physical health; it stimulates the brain, boosts well-being as well as producing a calming effect. 

'We believe that bring wildlife back is the right thing to do – for wildlife’s own sake. But we also believe that it makes common sense. Natural solutions can solve or play an important role in preventing and/or resolving difficult problems; whether it’s climate change and how wildlife adapts to it (BRANCH partnership, 2007; Davies, 2006; Hannah, 2007; Smithers, 2008), flooding (Purseglove, 2015), the economy (Natural Capital Committee, 2015) or the increase in non-communicable diseases such as Type-2 diabetes (van den Bosch, 2017), mental health and cardio-vascular disease.' 

Why walking in woods is good for you - Woodland Trust

Therefore, keeping our woodlands healthy, full of wildlife and accessible is an extremely important job in a country where there is so little woodland coverage.

Methods of Woodland Manage

Current and historic woodland techniques used at Newbold

Mr Lamberth, Head of Campus and Estate Services at Newbold College, confirmed  that there is currently minimal management of the woodland area that we plan to use at Newbold College. Rotten or dangerous trees are removed by the management team. They have also taken advice to leave wood to rot in piles in order to provide homes and nutrients for plants and animals living in the woodland. The Newbold team also clear back overgrown trees and plants next to the pathway the school children use.

Mr A Lamberth - Head of Campus and Estate Services

Mr Lamberth also mentioned the large amount of Laurel that has taken over the area, which needs to be cut back. The Laurel is perhaps a remnant of the area's formal garden past. This had been cut back a few years ago but has now taken over large areas of the woodland area again. This is an ongoing problem for the woodland management team here at Newbold, as it is all over the UK.

Mr Lamberth also mentioned that a fence has been put up on the perimeter of the land in order to discourage deer but they still gain access and cause damage to the area. Squirrels are also a problem in Newbold but there are no management techniques used with regards to these animals.

In addition, Mr Lamberth has also kindly offered to lead a short talk on the management of the woodland with some of the children from Newbold School. We very much look forward to this in the near future.

I would like to thank Mr Lamberth for his time in helping with the information he provided for this article. I would also like to thank him for the help he has offered our school with regards to his woodland management talks in the future.