A place to learn, share and inspire others to create a haven for you and for wildlife.
Sign In or Register to join the conversation
I have a recently acquired acre or so of broadleaf.
I could really use some guidance on how much/little I should be tidying up
When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!
How wonderful. So envious. A whole acre...................[sigh]......
Not an expert but I think it depends on what's there already and what you want to achieve. A bit like garden design but with added potential. Do you know the area well? Cutting back brambles and other invasive plants is a good place to start.
This sounds like fun, I wish I had that much land to play with! Don't be too hasty in getting rid of the brambles though as they provide many woodland creatures with food, shelter and nesting sites, especially a number of our declining woodland bird species.
If you want a good reference guide to woodland management for birds you might be interested in the joint RSPB and Forestry Commission publication mentioned here (priced at £14.95). We do also have some free advisory factsheets on woodland management for wildlife, some of which should be useful. If you want us to send them to you drop us an email to wildlife@rspb.org.uk
We would be very keen to see how you get on with this and what species turn up! Good luck!
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Sorry - didn't mean to suggest getting rid of the brambles.
The local wildlife group in my village have a lovely six acre wood which is really rich in wildlife. I know that the wood is 'managed' and a small amount of clearing is done but not very much!...Anything which is cleared from pathways etc is usually then recycled into wildlife piles etc. The biggest difference has been made simply by knowing what wildlife species live in the wood or around the local area and providing for them. They have achieved much of this by putting up nesting boxes for different species including in this case owls and other birds of prey. Bat boxes have also been erected and have proved really successful with colonies moving in! The only real clear area is a glade which has been created by clearing out a few trees and letting some light in for the native wild flowers and grasses to take hold, my experience of this area is just a mass of buzzing insects and butterflies like I have never seen before and I have to say takes your breath away when you first see it!! If you get this right you will attract all these insects etc which in turn will then attract a bigger variety of bird species and other wild life.
If I was in your shoes now I would approach my local wildlife group/wildlife trust and get some advice on what sorts of native species (animal/bird/plant) you could expect and how you can manage/plant to attract them? you never know they might even be willing to help and offer you some kind of support?
Well done on a fantastic purchase.....I can't help but to be rather envious!!!...
Good luck and please do keep us posted?
bird boxes on trees also bat boxes need to get them up before the spring
the friedly bid watcher
I have not managed a woodland only a school wildlife area which is for a specific purpose. It incorporated existing trees and planted new to develop a variety of habitat. There were experts involved in developing the area and it was very successful but did need ongoing management (with a light touch). Look twice before acting; balance and harmony.
A survey is a good place to start. As with a garden, taking the time to see what is already there and what wildlife is established is very useful, certainly through a growing season. Broadleaf woodland allows for spring wildflowers before the canopy returns and the variety can be increased. Some trees can be coppiced (hazel and willow for example) to let in light if necessary. Lifting canopies allows access and light. If it is all broadleaf, planting holly provides a useful habitat, year round protection for smaller birds and, if you have the right kinds, berries.
Increasing the diversity of plants encourages the diversity of wildlife. And keep an eye on the plant thugs which can take over. Brambles and nettles were two we had to watch to keep the path clear and the only way to control them were to dig out the roots.
Are the paths already there? Are they in the right place? Do you want to be able to sit and watch?
I took some photos yesterday. We bought the woods which lie to either side of us
about 5 years ago; and all we've done in there is plant some new
and a few wildflowers, but they don't do well after spring because of the leaf
cover. I do have a fantastic clump of wood anemones, which I didn't
plant
That last one shows where our soakaway goes down through it, and I have a plan to put common reeds at the top to clean up the slurry, then have a wee bridge, because, basically we never go in there, since you have to cross the muck.
Mostly the trees are beech, left over from Victorian shooting coverts. What we've plant is mixed native broadleaf.
Ian, thanks. I'm off to buy that booklet, and I will email for the factsheets too.
We have put up a few bird boxes over the years with spectacular lack of success. I'm probably a bit more knowledgeable about positioning and things now, so we will have another go.
In sunny Scotland, we really don't have anyone who does the sort of thing you're speaking about, higgy, but I know some folk, so I might start with that.
I certainly don't want more paths than we have.
All thoughts welcome, thanks