Stratfield Brake - Kidlington

Long term intentions

This area comprises three completely different habitat types, which together meet the Woodland Trust's corporate objectives of

1) Increasing biodiversity

2) Creation of new native woodland

3) Increase public awareness and enjoyment of woodland.

The overriding intention will be that the area will be greenspace in perpetuity for the people of Kidlington to enjoy on an informal basis. One issue on the site is that chemical will not be used in management operations.

Compartment 1

This area of ancient semi natural woodland will be managed on a minimum intervention regime to allow natural process to determine the future variety and structure of the woodland. This area will not have public access and attempts will be made to discuss its current use as an area of shooting recreation with the neighbour. This will lead to the area not being used for this purpose in the future. This area will be able to produce good veteran trees especially oak.

Compartment 2

This area is a young woodland creation scheme and a buffer to the ancient woodland. This area will be managed to produce an area of high forest next to the ancient woodland and will require regular intervention to thin and respace the trees as they grow. This will ensure that the trees on the area develop a strong and relatively open crown which in turn will produce the seed for the next generation.

As it develops this area will have the ability to absorb the public who will have open access for quiet and informal walking. The paths will be kept clear for access and for people to enjoy.

Compartment 3

The primary objective for the wetland area is to leave it to 'develop naturally', with the long-term aim of attracting migrating wetland birds and encouraging breeding waders. An open landscape will be maintained and periodic intervention may be necessary to coppice any invasive willow scrub that may threaten the open nature of the wetlands. It may also be necessary to control the spread of the invasive bulrush. Some of the shallow scrapes will as their nature is be semi permanent wetland and in time may disappear. An additional objective is to increase the diversity of the site, with wetland plants and invertebrates and possibly water voles and great crested newts.

The primary objective for the grassland is extensive long-term grazing 'allowing the grazier to manage the grassland in a way that is conducive to good stock husbandry'. The aim is to produce habitat suitable for ground nesting birds and poached water margins which will in turn provide habitat for plants and invertebrates of the wetland fringe. The control of ragwort and creeping thistle is an early priority but should reduce over time.

As the site develops the bird life is likely to increase and become more stable and conditions may become more suitable for breeding waders. Scrub will naturally colonise producing additional habitat to further diversify the site.