Bunkers Hill - Nr Stourbridge

Long term intentions

Long term the intention will be to maintain Bunkers Hill Wood as a site dominated by a high forest structure with a mixture of broadleaves and conifers with a proportion of dedicated open glade areas, as these provide much of the sites special internal and external landscape character. There is no history of coppice management, and historical evidence suggests that high forest has dominated the site for a prolonged period. Although the site once supported heathland vegetation, it has been many years since this was last visible due largely to subsequent woodland planting and the habitats resulting fragmentation and vegetation change. There is also an absence of heathland vegetation on surrounding land. As such woodland clearance in favour of heathland restoration would not be a viable management option for this site and will not be undertaken.

The high forest canopy will be maintained through natural regeneration where possible, with manipulation of the canopy through appropriate silvicultural techniques to encourage this. Veteran trees will be maintained through appropriate management to conserve them and the retention of overmature, dead trees and live trees with holes and hollows, rot columns, torn off limbs and rotten branches, will also be retained where they do not present a risk to health and safety e.g. the ride edges, to supplement the existing deadwood habitat. Steps will also be taken to identify and select suitable future veteran trees to ensure continuity of this valuable woodland component.

Rhododendron is present in the understorey of the woodland, notably in the eastern portion of the site. While this species is non-native and potentially invasive, further investigation into the specimens found at Bunkers Hill has revealed the majority to be hybrid-cultivars which develop and grow much more slowly than common species. Visually they are very appealing to visitors developing large, colourful flowers. Given the sites history and their cultural value in accordance with the Woodland Trusts position statement of native species conservation, these rarer rhododendrons are considered an acceptable component of the wood providing they are maintained in their present proportions.

The wood has an excellent network of both public and permissive rides and paths, which will be maintained to ensure year round visitor enjoyment, with all public access points managed to ensure they continue to be safe and welcoming.