The Seek - Braunston-in-Rutland

Long term intentions

The long-term intention at The Seek will be to increase the structural diversity and habitat diversity over the whole site. This will, in turn, advance three of the four of the Trust's corporate objectives by increasing new native woodland, increasing enjoyment of woodland and restoring and improving biodiversity of woodlands.

The majority of The Seek planting is flourishing. The main intention over the next 40 years will be to break up the even-agedness of the new planting and thereby increase the structural diversity and associated biodiversity. Management options to develop this new native woodland will be adopted:

These options will include areas of limited intervention away from access route’s, re-spacing and thinning of some of the areas of newly planted native broadleaf species within the next 20 years. Ride edge coppicing starting within the next 30 years and then to be cut on an 8-10 year cycle thereafter, thus creating additional habitat for wildlife next to the newly created rides. Areas of former rough grassland in the east of the site will be planted with shrubs and low trees to improve the age structure of the wood.

Ride management at The Seek will be developed to increase bio-diversity of the sward by variable cutting of ride margins and removing arisings, while providing easy access throughout the site for as wide a range of visitors as possible.

The 1.4 hectare area of meadow is to be maintained through mowing and the removal of the arisings with the intention of improving species diversity through the removal of nutrients over the years. This is, however, dependant on the control of Ragwort in the area.

The Trust's corporate objective of increasing enjoyment of woodlands will be achieved by maintaining and encouraging community involvement at the site, maintaining the rides paths and entrances for public access.