Long term intentions

The establishment of a large native woodland comprised of stand-types that would be typical of the site. Subsequent management to reflect the most appropriate approaches within the wider landscape context with emphasis on reinforcing links to nearby ASNW’s and other semi-natural habitats. The new woodland will be made up of six different stand types based on Rackham (1980) and Rodwell and Patterson (1994). Where each stand type is laid out is based on site topography and soil type . All shrub species will be derived from colonisation from the 15 km of hedgerows, except for Hazel, which will be planted as part of the woodland matrix. The six stand types being planted are:

· Ash-Hazel Woodland (NVC Type W8)

· Hornbeam-Ash woodland (Ex NVC)

· W8 Ash-Maple-Dogs Mercury

· W10 Quercus robur-Bracken-Bramble

· Lime-Hornbeam (NVC W8/W10 variant)

· Plateau Alderwood (Ex NVC)

Compartment 1b, a large block of land adjacent to a former ASNW that remains as a hedge is being planted with 100% Pedunculate Oak with subsequent management designed to favour increased woody species diversity from colonisation by plants within the peripheral hedges and small ASNW. Similarly some 5 ha of land is to be left to colonisation due to its close proximity to other important woodland features, namely;

· Compartment 1a: 1.26 ha adjacent to a hedge that is the remnant of an ASNW cleared c 100 years ago.

· Compartment 2a: 1.84 ha adjacent to small stream and valley Alder Carr and comprises the bottom and slopes of a small valley;

· Compartment 3a: 1.68 ha adjacent to an ancient hedgerow with the area concerned having a natural depression.

Under the terms of the gift agreement three fields totalling 16.9 ha have to be retained in an undeveloped state for the next 25 years. All three fields are adjacent to the village with extensive public access and are isolated from the main grassland blocks proposed but adjacent to the woodland creation blocks. The long-term aim for these fields is to establish woodland on them but we have to wait until the 25 year period has run its course or the donor assents to their earlier planting. In the interim period it is proposed that these three fields are farmed under a low-input arable system. Conversion to grassland will require significant capital investment in installing water to the fields and being some of the closest fields to the village and greatly frequented by dog walkers it is thought they will be unattractive to graziers or as sources of hay. As grassland they are likely to be a cost based operation rather than a net source of income as arable which at the same time can provide a number of environmental benefits while retaining the flexibility for conversion to woodland. A fourth field (4.1ha) that has been earmarked for a possible orchard and other community use will also be farmed as arable until such time as its future is confirmed.

Hedgerows

Existing hedgerows will be managed in a number of ways depending on their condition and location. The following general guidelines apply:

· Hedges adjacent to roads will have their top and the roadside edge cut annually in February;

· Field side of hedges will generally be left to develop naturally unless there is a path or track beside it or we have under the terms of the lease to maintain the hedge. Where the field edge needs to be cut then this will usually be done in a manner that promotes the hedges’ thickening out;

· Hedges within woodland blocks will be left to develop naturally into woodland;

New hedgerows will be created as part of works to diversify grassland areas, including the creation of a ‘green lane’ feature.

New Conservation Grassland

The grassland areas will be established by sowing appropriate species. The intention is to use only known provenance sources of native grass and wildflower seed. Apart form facilitating the bulking up of native provenance plants it also creates a possibility that we may be able to harvest and use the seed elsewhere on the WT estate and even market it to other organisation. Grassland is to be managed ultimately by grazing with cattle and/or sheep with the occasional hay crop taken and the aftermath subsequently grazed. Detailed studies into the creation of the grassland and matching the site to potential donor sites for seed will be undertaken.

The two minor streams that flow through the grassland areas will have on-line ponds created in at least one location In creating these ponds the following approx dimensions will be sought for: Pond sides no steeper than 1:3 with a significant edge of 1:10 and at least a small area of the pond 2m deep.

Floodplain and River

The two areas of low-lying land within the floodplain that are regularly flooded in winter months will be converted to grassland and managed by low density summer grazing by cattle. The existing streams will be redirected to maximise opportunities for wetland creation with new ditches and foot drains constructed to increase water storage and distribution on marshland areas. Opportunities to promote flooding of the fields as well as to encourage fish conservation will be undertaken in line with Environment Agency advice. Breeding opportunities, at least on the western floodplain, will be enhanced for Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe.

Cricket Bat Willow Plantations

Through a managed transition involving gentle thinning out of the Cricket Bat Willows and favouring colonising wood species the river side Cricket bat willow stands will be converted to natural floodplain woodland, a mix of alder and willow with some Downy birch. Away from the River Colne there is a single stand of C.Bat Willows which will be retained as a commercial stand as part of educational provision on the site.

Habitat enhancement features

Habitat enhancement features are to be developed across the site to expand and bring forward the biodiversity benefits of the habitat creation work both on and off-site. Work to be targeted at actions to benefit key species, typically BAP species, and to be monitored to see what impact the actions have. Key actions identified are:

· Early establishment of deadwood habitat to benefit invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians:

· Use of cover crops in temporary open ground areas and field margins to provide seed and nectar sources for butterflies, bees, and farmland birds.

· A wide range of bird boxes to be used extensively across the site.

· Creation of bare earth/sand invertebrate banks;

· Pond creation, including seasonal ponds, and enhancement of existing pond and ditch habitats to benefit ampbians and to extend wetland habitats.

· Works to promote reptile and amphibian conservation.

· Otter run on the road bridges crossing the river Colne;

· Artificial otter holt and other scrubby ‘resting’ areas developed along the river side;

· A number of bat conservation measure including roosting and hibernation boxes and possible conversion of off-site WW II pillboxes to bat hibernacula;

Offsite Conservation Impacts

Working with local partners, such as the Colne Valley Countryside Project, we will seek to use the project at Fordham Hall Estate to encourage wider conservation gains at the landscape level and also work with neighbours to mitigate any potential problems that may arise on their land as a consequence of the Fordham Hall Project.

In particular in the long term we hope to have:

· Established a working relationship with landowning neighbours over the management of problem and pest species, in particular: Deer, Rabbits, and Mink

· Agreed an integrated conservation vision on management of the river and river corridor with neighbours;

· Encouraged and supported neighbours with woodland creation projects, especially which help to link and buffer local ASNW’s.

PUBLIC ACCCES

In the first instance our intention is to observe the nature of the use of the site to better understand likely future needs in terms of where the main routes people use are and where for example surfaced paths may be preferable. Publicity and information will be developed to support this slightly looser approach until such time as key long-term needs are identified and measures taken to address these. Overall a key intention is to test the viability of an open access policy across the Estate and to respond to new or developing circumstances as they arise. Consequently people will be able to walk, ride or cycle on the site. The following broad guidelines will be adopted in taking this open access policy forwards:

Bridleway Provision

Horseriding and cycling will be permitted across the whole of the site on a permissive basis based on existing agreements with the East Anglian Toll Ride and through adopting a voluntary user code of practice. Where restrictions to use are shown to be necessary or where entrances are considered unsafe for bridleway use then restrictions through fencing will be used. However as a general rule we are seeking to avoid further fencing over and above that required for woodland creation and grazing.

Pedestrian/cycle provision

In addition to maintaining the existing PROW the permissive path network will establish a number of safe unsurfaced pedestrian/cycle routes alongside roads. Subject to funding and agreements with neighbours a surfaced path linking Ford Street to Fordham School will be established. A network of waymarked routes will be developed based on local links with pubs and the site car park. Site interpretation will be Internet based rather than through on-site boards.

Carpark and site gateways

The maintenance of car park provision for up to 15 cars at the site with extra bus parking. Car Park will have height restriction barrier to prevent vans etc from entering the site and the facility to close the car park should it be decided that daily closing is desirable. If and when the car park is locked a key for community use will be made available. Overall the car park will act as the main gateway to the site however there will be a number of minor gateways that will have added information for the community: opposite the Three Horseshoes pub and at the entrance beside the shoulder of Mutton pub.

Friends Group

A formal Friends group will be established with support given for the organisation and running of events and activities at the wood. This will be undertaken in a way that links in with existing Community support mechanisms such as the Parish Council, Colne Valley Project and the Fordham Newsletter and website.

Site Information and Interpretation

Basic Site information will be available at main gateways however the main thrust of site information and interpretation provision will be internet based, including email newsgroup and website. Non web users will have access to information through regular articles in the Fordham News Magazine and putting newsletters up at the Information points at main entrances. Hard copy information will not be produced specifically for the site but will instead be integrated with any wider information provision such as through the Colne Valley Countryside Project. Waymarked trails will be developed on the basis that they can be followed easily without a map from a number of key start points.

Monitoring

The long term environmental impacts of the changes will be monitored through baseline survey of the bat population and followed up with resurvey and observation on key aspects of the bat habitat such as the invertbrate food populations and roosting/hibernation opportunities. Being at the apex of a food wed it is hoped that through a close undertsanding of the nature of the Bat population in the area and the changes that occur to it we can assess the qualititative changes in the natural environment.