Priory Grove - Monmouth
Long term intentions
The ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) will be maintained and the planted ancient woodland (PAWS) will be restored to native woodland, with secondary plantation also managed to encourage the development of native woodland. The majority of the site will develop naturally as high forest, with periodic light thinning and local selective felling to favour a range of site-native species (within PAWS and secondary woodland) and to promote stability and adequate light levels in the vicinity of ancient trees as well as paths, tracks and roads.
New generations of trees and shrubs will be established through a combination of planting and natural regeneration with the creation of temporary exclosures and use of guards to provide protection from deer. Extensive deer fencing is considered inappropriate due to the high costs involved (particularly on steep slopes), the visual intrusiveness of a tall fence, the fact that the fence would cross several paths and the impact that fencing against deer would have on deer movements in the vicinity (ie: impact of deer would increase in neighbouring woodland).
There is a well-established tradition of coppice management both at Priory Grove and across the well wooded Wye Valley AONB, as evidenced by the many charcoal hearths. The southern part of the site (where more recent coppicing has been most successful) will be managed as coppice with standards, which will complement similar work elsewhere in the Wye Valley woodlands, and is intended to provide early successional stages of woodland which have become markedly less available in recent decades. A carefully considered coppice plan has been designed to both benefit dormice and minimise impacts on the landscape (see separate detailed coppice plan revised in 2005) in the face of considerable browsing pressure from deer in the area. A 25-30 year rotation is planned, with five coupes of around 0.8ha (within which some 0.5ha will be cut and some 0.3ha will comprise retained standards) each and with one coupe to be cut every 5 years although the length of rotation is not considered critical and may vary up to 15 years depending on markets for the produce. Several species and/or species groups are likely to respond positively to coppicing eg: dormice, invertebrates, birds and vascular plants. However, since no species which are wholly reliant on coppice management for their survival have been confirmed present at the site, and given the significant resources required in the absence of markets for the coppiced timber, the continuation of coppicing will be reviewed regularly, in the light of timber markets and species present.
The veteran beeches and large mature yews will be retained and thinned around as necessary to prevent canopy competition and to promote the stability of adjacent trees. Selected individual beech stools will be recut periodically and protected from deer browsing to prolong their lives. Note that at least half of the mature beech stools in sub-compartment 1c will be left uncut due to their value as dormouse nest sites. The effects of squirrel damage on these trees will be monitored to ensure that they are not threatened.
The ride and path network will be managed for public access for as wide a range of visitors as the gradients will permit, as well as for operational purposes and ride edge habitat.
