Having identified and recorded the distributions of ancient woodland features the next step is to assess whether positive management is needed to protect them and to make and plan which records all this. We have broken this process down into a number of stages to make it simpler.
Assessing features
The best place to make an assessment is on site, at the same time as carrying out Step 1.
Take into account:
- Observations of conditions in and around the ancient woodland features
- Observations and knowledge of current and upcoming management activities; and
- What you know about their characteristics and sensitivities of ancient woodland features. Use our 'what to look for' and 'sensitivities and management' wallcharts from the downloads section to help you.
Management responses
Once you have made your assessment you need to decide what management responses, if any, are needed.
Some ancient woodland features may require specific action to secure their future. But in the majority of cases the most appropriate response will simply involve taking their presence into account when planning other management activity.
A good way of ordering field observations and translating them into a set of management responses is to rank them into three categories in order of urgency. We have developed a simple threat responses table (right) to help you do this.
Reconciling objectives
However you may find that some of your management objectives conflict and may have an impact on ancient woodland features.
In the vast majority of cases the guidance on these pages should help pre-empt any major management conflicts. But where specific conflicts do occur preventing the loss of ancient woodland features should always be the priority.
However, exactly when an activity is likely to cause irrecoverable losses can be a judgement call. To help in determining when features may be affected we have developed some rules of thumb in determining what an acceptable impact might be.
Recording the process
Once you have gone through the process above it is important to make a record of your findings.
This is the plan for protecting and enhancing ancient woodland features and you should record it in a way most useful to you. It can be dealt with in a similar way to other land management objectives and become an integral part of any other management plan you have on your land (eg woodland management plan, game management strategy, whole farm plan, or integrated estate management plan).
Monitoring and adapting the plan over time
It will be useful to have a system for monitoring the condition of ancient woodland features over time. This does not need to be onerous. A simple re-survey of ancient woodland features and review of any management every five years should be adequate (perhaps in line with your grant scheme or other management plan period).
Additional follow up checks for remedial action should be carried out whenever major management operations or other changes have taken place.