Wilder by design
The Alport Valley, in the Hope Woodlands area of Derbyshire just north of the A57 Snake road, is a most beautiful and dramatic valley at the heart of the High Peak Estate. The valley is one of the few large valleys in the Peak District with no public roads or car park and hence remains a peaceful and tranquil place.
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What to do with the conifer plantations?
However, much of the valley was planted with conifers between the 1930s and 1982. At the time afforestation was considered to be an entirely legitimate and justified activity within the context of the perceived need for the nation to supply its own timber requirements. Today, some 100 hectares have conifer woodlands in various phases of development. They are dominated by Sitka Spruce with smaller stands of Scots Pine, Larch and Lodgepole Pine. There has been little subsequent intervention or management of these woodlands due to the difficulty of access and most are therefore dense and impenetrable: only one small area of the western plantations has been lightly thinned.
In 1994, the Forestry Commission prepared plans to begin timber extraction and to restock with a mixture of broadleaves and conifers. The details of the proposals were met with widespread public concern due to the damage extraction was likely to cause and were subsequently withdrawn. Since then, despite the enormous efforts of Forestry Commission staff to find more widely acceptable solutions, it has not been possible to harvest and extract the timber in a manner sensitive to these concerns and the fragile local environment. At present the standing timber in the Alport Valley has a negative value due to the low market price and the high harvesting costs. The timber in Alport is unlikely to ever have any significant commercial value. A joint approach was then adopted between the National Trust and the Forestry Commission to find a solution to the problems of the valley.
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The Project
Firstly, the National Trust acquired the valley during 2002. We have now entered into a joint management project with the Forestry Commission to secure a sustainable and environmentally appropriate future for the Alport dale. Our project has been developed by both the NT and FC but also incorporates comments received from a number of other interested organisations and individuals resulting from a wide public consultation, with the involvement of Severn Trent Water Ltd, the Peak District National Park Authority and from the local community. The Alport Project will be integrated with the existing partnership arrangements which cover the Upper Derwent Valley. An Advisory Group of interested stakeholders has been established to help oversee the implementation of the proposed work.
Over the next 40 years the dark green conifer plantations will be gradually converted to woodlands containing appropriate tree species such as oak, rowan, aspen, birch and holly. The first area to be felled is Castles Wood. The bulk of the felled timber will not be removed but will be 'recycled' by natural rotting processes.
Working with farmers, local residents and visitors, we aim to recreate a mixture of woodland, wetland, grassland and heath. In time, the field barns, hedges and dry stone walls will also be restored and views of the dramatic Alport Castles land slip will be preserved.
Our aim is to conserve the quiet and remote character of the Alport Valley for everyone to enjoy. There is no doubt that the felling of conifer trees will cause some noise and changes to the landscape, but this short-term disruption will bring long-term benefits for people and wildlife.
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