Penn Wood - Penn Street
Long term intentions
Penn Wood will be managed to achieve the Trusts Corporate objectives as follows:
1.0 Improving Woodland Biodiversity by managing and restoring 138 Hectares of the central and western areas (Comp 1), to wood pasture comprising a dynamic mosaic of ASNW, species rich grassland and scrub. This will be achieved in the following manner.
1.1 Re- introducing grazing by cattle and where necessary by mechanical intervention. This work will be focused on areas of bracken bramble and nettle, where there is potential for restoration to acid or neutral grassland.
1.2 Removing a high proportion of non native conifers from the plantations over a phased 25 year timescale. As a priority this will start in areas with significant potential for restoration of acid or neutral grassland or where there is an urgent need to release broadleaved trees from competition. Retaining up to 10% conifers, predominantly larch, for their full life span while eradicating invasive non native western hemlock.
1.3 Managing the broadleaf trees and natural regeneration to ensure a continuity of broadleaved woodland cover and open grown trees across the area except where it would have an impact on old trees or species rich grassland.
1.4 Maintaining old growth by ensuring a continuity of trees exceeding 200 years old.
1.5 Managing rhododendron [Rhododendron ponticum and other cultivars] as a linear feature along the historic “Rhododendron rides” and removal where it has invaded other areas of woodland.
1.7 Restoring the ponds following detailed advice on best practice.
2. Improving Woodland Biodiversity by managing and restoring 37hectares, the north eastern area (Comp. 2) to broadleaf ASNW by: -
2.1 Restoring to ASNW by the gradual removal of non native conifers and managing as Continuous Cover broadleaf high forest implementing a group selection silvicultural system to provide, in time, a diverse age structure. This will be achieved by taking advantage of the natural regeneration of oak and beech that is already occurring beneath the canopy. This action may in time provide opportunities for sustainable timber production and enhance wildlife conservation and informal access.
2.2 Maintaining old growth by ensuring a continuity of trees exceeding 200 years old.
2.3 Seeking to eradicate rhododendron (Rhodendron ponticum) except for the area adjoining the Parish Church
The Trusts Corporate Objective of Enhancing Peoples Enjoyment of woodland will be achieved by
1 Continuing to involve the Friends of Penn Wood in the management of the wood and especially in the management of access for organised activities.
2 Providing free informal public access on foot
3 Maintaining the main entrances and paths
4 Providing information boards at main entrances and some limited waymarking.
5 Providing information about the wood initially in a leaflet and via the Woodland Trust web site.
6 Constructing and maintaining a circular section of all-weather, “access-for-all” path leading from the church car park.
7 Managing as linear features the historic avenues of specimen conifers and specimen rhododendrons and replacing specimen conifers with native broadleaved trees as required to retain this as a linear landscape feature.
