HB CM Flashcards
Woodlands are shaped by (4)
- geology
- soils
- climate
- people over generations
People kept stock in the woodland and the grazing would help with the clearing and regeneration of the woodland. This then supported many other species of plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals.
Wood pasture
a large, densely wooded area
Forest
means an area that was subjected by the king to special law, called the forest law (game and hunting). Forests such as the New Forest, Forest of Dean and Sherwood Forest
How much plantation is in the UK?
2.2 million ha
out of 2.8 million ha of forest overall
BAPS
Biodiversity Action Plans
How much % tree cover does the UK have?
13%
Main types of Woodlands historical features (4)
- Archaeology – hillforts, settlement sites, buildings and routeways
- Past woodland management – charcoal burning platforms, saw pits and boundary banks
- Type of trees present – this can indicate past management e.g. holly or common hawthorn can indicate a period of grazing wood pasture
- Earthworks – Banks (wide or narrow) may be divides of land boundaries, lumps and bumps maybe old quarrying activity or even settlements
Management of forest aims to
create greater age and size class diversity
Cutting deciduous trees down in areas to create diversity of canopy as well as immature and clear areas
Coppice
What are the methods of coppicing? management (5)
- Reinstate or maintain rotational coppice
- Short to medium rotation (<12 years)
- Cut smaller coupes/panels one or more per year leaving the majority of the woodland still standing.
- Cut adjacent panels in succession which allows colonisation by other species.
- Rides are needed and retain mature standards/non-crop species for ecological value
What are the benefits for biodiversity of coppicing? (2)
- Creates open spaces for microclimate and invertebrates
- Birds will use coppice up to 10yrs old as it will have thicket habitat and a mix of species
How long does it take for a coppiced tree to be ready to harvest again?
7 - 20 years
What are the methods of Continuous Cover Forestry? (2)
- Allow a varied structure without clearfelling.
- Thinning can be used to create space which will encourage regeneration whilst retaining the majority as closed canopy.
What are the benefits for biodiversity of Continuous Cover Forestry? (3)
- A more diverse structure where some species benefit more from it the others.
- Retains shading and closed canopy favoured by some species.
- allows a reduction in problems posed by climate change and biotic threats such as fungal infections and protects the soil from erosion/disturbance and also contributes to locking up more carbon in the larger trees.
What are the methods of Minimal Intervention management? (5)
- Safety measures and boundary infrastructure are the only managed steps with successional processes being allowed.
- Make sure that the canopy does not crowd so the structure of the woodland needs to be viewed.
- Works best with areas of established/mature woodland with a variety of structure. These conditions are usually found in wet woodland where the water table helps with decay process/structural change.
- All dead and decaying wood should be left in place (unless a safety hazard).
- There are species which have specific requirements and this may need some management such as small group felling.
What are the benefits for biodiversity of Minimal Intervention? (4)
- Allows natural processes to occur. e.g ancient woodland which has associated flora, fauna and fungi.
- Rich communities of ferns, mosses, lichens and fungi can thrive.
- Dead wood invertebrates thrive.
- Usually high biodiversity.
What are the management methods of Clear fell and Open Habitats? (7)
- sometimes large compartments of trees are felled in one go. Felling in this way creates a patchwork of temporary open spaces which support certain species. It can be very disruptive at the time but particularly with felling conifers and allowing natural regeneration of broadleaves has benefits in the end with more biodiversity.
- normally used in conifer plantations when a crop needs to be taken but can also be done in broadleaf woodland. These types of woodland often lack biodiversity due to single tree species and less diverse structure.
- Creating rides and glades and encouraging scrubby vegetation along these external edges has a lot of benefit for different species.
- Leaving some areas of trees to develop old growth, large trees and deadwood can also add variety and wildlife value.
- Re-growth can be impacted by over-grazing by dear which can deter regeneration and leave a permanent gap.
- Try to minimise disturbance from public and dog walkers as this can impact ground nesting birds.
- Also try to manage operations in with the correct time of year so not to impact nesting bird season.
What are the benefits for biodiversity of Clear fell and Open Habitats? (1)
As the scrub grows it creates habitat and food for birds, invertebrates including butterflies.
nightjar, woodlark, ground flora and butterflies.
What are the management methods of dead and decaying wood? (4)
- Provide fallen deadwood in different areas in your woodland such as damp areas, sunny areas and dry shady areas. This process can be done during other management techniques such as coppicing or felling.
- Leave lengths of wood to rot down and decompose. If you’re going to leave in piles make big piles as these are more value than small ones to certain species.
- Standing deadwood is also beneficial so retain it if its present and if you have none you could use ring-barking on those trees you decide are right (different sizes help).
- Dead branches on live trees are great for wildlife. Be selective when targeting felling operations and leave some on (as long as its safe).
What are the benefits for biodiversity of dead and decaying wood? (2)
- Fallen deadwood is good for fungi and invertebrates and also provides food and shelter for birds, amphibians and small mammals.
- Standing deadwood is good for specialist invertebrates such as long-horn beetles and in turn for woodpeckers. Cavities are good for bats.
GAP
The Grazing Animals Project
Conservation grazing is a less intensive form of land management used on areas which
are less productive (commercially)
Conservation grazing involves the use of which animals (4)
- cattle
- sheep
- equines
- pigs
When choosing a grazing species what needs to be considered? (3)
- Feeding preferences
- Physiology
- Animal behaviour