Upton Meadow Millennium Wood - Wirral, Merseyside
Long term intentions
The Woodland Trust aims to maintain and enhance the mosaic of habitats currently found in Upton Meadow. Transitional zones between open grassland and woodland are of particular significance and value.
When the new native woodland has been established the Woodland Trust will manage it as high forest (continuous cover). Management operations will be designed to ensure that maximum structural diversity in terms of species composition , age distribution and size classification is achieved. Overall management practices will ensure that the site becomes typical of National Vegetation Classification types NVC 8&10 (lowland mixed broadleaf Woodland). Upton Bridge Wood (itself classified and Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland and SBI)and other established wildlife habitats such as the northern and southern meadows will help to ensure that the site becomes colonised by native woodland flora and fauna. The meadows will be re-surveyed in 2007 to see if species are in decline.
Upton Bridge Wood is of high ecological value. This is reflected in its designation as an SBI. Natural regeneration of the woodland will be encouraged through a phased programme of crown thinning in favour of English oak, small leaved lime and ash. Where regeneration proves to be inadequate suitable canopy gaps will be restocked with English oak, ash and wild cherry (Native Provenance Region 302). Non native species such as Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) will be removed over time. Woodland edge habitat will be monitored and where appropriate expanded. This will be achieved through changes in the mowing regime and woodland edge coppicing cycles.
The footpath network will be maintained through twice yearly cutting of informal paths through the woodland. The bridleway which runs up the western edge of the site, will also be monitored and maintained as necessary in partnership with Wirral Borough Council Public Rights of Way Department. Appropriate opportunities to promote and enhance recreational use of the site will be taken. The site is reasonably accessible for less abele people (there is a kissing gate suitable for wheelchair use at the main entrances off Greasby Road and Upton By-Pass), however at present the internal paths are not surfaced. There is however a suitable surfaced route along the public bridlepath. A programme of awareness building and education will take place through mediums such as information boards, posters and where possible face to face contact with visitors. A basic set of guidelines will be created for the use of the site (i.e. no dog fouling/fires).
The open meadow areas will be managed through a program of regular cutting. Every effort will be made to control noxious weeds such as ragwort. The long- term removal of the grass is dependent on the availability of local markets. The grassland will be cut as late as possible to ensure seeding has taken place. Colonising trees and shrubs will be removed to ensure the meadows do not become scrub.
The ride and woodland edge transitional zones will be maintained to create a graduated structure from open meadow to high forest. This will be achieved through the establishment of a coppice cycle (10 year) of woodland edge shrub belts from year 10. The existing woodland edge zone in the south meadow will be extended by 25m into the meadow by altering the grass cutting regime in 2001.
Deadwood habitat will be encouraged wherever possible. Ringbarking will be used as a thinning/respacing technique in some areas (where standing deadwood can be retained safely). Habitat piles will be created wherever practical to do so.
Wetland areas will be maintained and enhanced wherever possible. It is thought the pond may need de-silting in approximately 10 years time 2010. Opportunities to extend and create further wetland habitat will be investigated. The willow and alder to the south of the existing open water will be re-coppiced (10 year cycle). The density of stools will be reduced over time. Deadwood and stone piles will be created close to the ponds to provide habitat for amphibians.
Through the creation of Upton Meadow the Woodland Trust has achieved all four of its core objectives:
Increasing the area of new native woodland
Improving woodland biodiversity
Increasing the enjoyment of woodland
No further loss of ancient woodlands
The acquisition of Upton Meadow has also ensured the protection of a small area of ASNW (Upton Bridge Wood), and the protection of an ecologically rich meadow (southern meadow). It is our intention to continue to discuss the long term future of Upton Meadow with Wirral Borough Council with a view to extending our current leasehold status.
The Woodland Trust will take advantage of any reasonable opportunities for commercial returns from woodland crops where it does not conflict or compromise the overall conservation objectives adopted for this site.
