During the 1960s, these woods were cleared and replaced with a pine plantation as a financial investment, facilitated by government tax-incentives. The crop, which is now mature and ready for felling, has given us the opportunity to return the site to the rich biodiverse habitat that it once was.
The densely planted conifers have dramatically reduced the amount of light reaching the forest floor, resulting in the suppression of native plant species. Many of these species have been unable to flower or produce seeds, and seedlings which have grown, have been unable to survive in the shade. This change has led to the disappearance of many insects and birds associated with the original woodland.
However, along some of the path edges, where the pines failed to grow, and more light was available, some flowers can still be seen, giving a tantalising glimpse of what used to be.
The benefits of conifer removal, coupled with the return to a more natural system of woodland working, are becoming apparent, with increasing diversity and abundance of flowering plants. However, much work still needs to be undertaken over the next few years to remove the remaining conifers and return the site to deciduous woodland with a diverse shrub-layer and open sunny areas.
This work can be split into 3 areas;
The first area is the Canadas or Eastern end this still has reasonable amounts of hazel struggling to survive under the pines.
Specialist woodland restorers, experienced in coppicing with standards, have been contracted by the National Trust to undertake the work in the areas with higher levels of hazel still surviving. Using low-impact machinery to avoid soil damage, the contractors will clear around 2 acres at a time. On each plot all the trees will be removed, except for a scattering of larger broadleaved trees called ‘standards’. Most of the under-storey of shrubs will also be cut and allowed to re-grow again or any gaps planted up, although flowering hawthorns, hollies and some rowans will be left as insect nectar-sources.
Deer will then be prevented from browsing the new shoots for 2 or 3 years, during which time it should be possible to assess whether, and how many, of the woodland flowers have survived the dense shading of the conifer trees.