Fencing of Woods

[Richard Tarleton]

The management objectives look perfectly normal (regeneration, native species, access etc.) - the fencing would appear to be a "project" in support of an objective - which, though, is not clear from this management plan.

This sentence in 4.0 is important:

Open public access will maintained.

- this means no fencing. It need not rule out temporary fencing around regeneration plots but would certainly rule out permanent fencing to exclude people.

There is a work programme set out in section 6. The programme for 2014 (or any other year) does not mention fencing. You would expect it to do so, if fencing is taking place. I cannot see from the plan which management objective the fencing supports.

There is also reference to erosion and "braided" footpaths (multiple footpaths that arise as people find their own way round muddy bits). Again fencing not the answer unless temporary and in support of footpath surface repair work.

There is clearly a gap between this plan and what is happening on the ground, and at least a major failure to communicate with the local community.

[eighthobstruction]

Thanks very much Richard....That's interesting I must look further into your offering

Good News I think because one of the fencers grumbled to me this morning "I hope you're satisfied you've just done me out of 2 weeks work (I did'nt press him further, as he was irrate)....Woodland Trust are only communicating with generic emails....and have made not effort to talk to me or 4 local councillors i have on the case.....( but really I am the one doing all the local press and trying to think of and cover every angle) [sleepless nights and agitated ruminating days]

I'll just generically generate a few paragraphs i have written in letters and emails :


1)While WT has given notice to the Parish Council, it has only done so by email. No notices were put up anywhere in the village. No notices were put up at the most obvious location i.e the entrance to the wood, where it would certainly have got a reaction. The first the community knew about it was when the first posts started going in. Our Parish Council is a sleepy association of people (who do not use the woods) they did not realise the implications to the community when it was very briefly talked about at a Parish meeting. Info' was put on the village website (but this is a dormant website only occasionally used in emergencies such as this - it is not an active device usually). So you can see that WT did the minimum needed, but in a less than active manner , and really attempted no consultation. Yes, I know it your land and no consultation is needed, but I consider it less than courteous, and less than thoughtful that no attempt to get useful information from the locals; that could have helped the project immensely, was made.
2) The Woodland Trust have owned (it is a charity trust) the woods for a very long time, 20+ years at least in which time THEY have let it deteriorate to the state that it is now in....and now without even the smallest bit of consultation (I understand they do not have to consult) they are coming in with sledge hammer to turn around their own mismanagement. Now WT come in to make a lovely open-space into an ugly corridor without any sensitivity or thoughtfulness. A tired cathedral into a linear galvanised steel mesh mess

3)The bank of the beck (some 200yds) has 20 or so places where the bank is eroded, used by children and dogs to get down to the river. There will be extra demand on these areas , and they will erode very quickly and extensively and will become like the erosion at the Cowling end of the woods , where over 150sq feet of bank has gone. I expect this to happen far more by channelling so near to the bank.
4) I think I have stated the dangers for toddlers and elderly in one particular place . This is a REAL danger, not one made up to help my case. Consultation could have given the information about the states the beck creates ref : how often it rages and overtakes the path that WT have now built upon.

5) You should come and have a site meeting now....especially as you can see the abundance of growth happening now in places you have fenced....the photos on your web site (and your fence decision) are taken in January after one of the most rainy Winter this century, everything is shooting up now.
6)By the way there are several Horse Chestnut trees that really need to come or be pruned. To my knowledge 5 major parts of HC trees have come down in2 years (2 complete trees). I would suggest this work needs doing before you put the fence in.

Ref your message concerning Woodland Trust and Grass Woods....They cannot be compared Steve....GrassWoods is 100's of acres in Limestone country, the fences disappear in size like that. Also GWoods is mainly ASH & HAZEL, the flora is quite different, where they have done most conservation. There are no Ash in Lyndhurst, the place is the size of 3 football fields . It is an intimate place, not an enormous landscape.
Also you have swallowed the word 'regeneration', but you do not really know what they are going to do* - seed - plant trees????

Thanks for your input RT....appreciated....that link will not load for me now....something sinister????

[Richard Tarleton]

Also you have swallowed the word 'regeneration', but you do not really know what they are going to do* - seed - plant trees????

Regeneration per se perfectly respectable - e.g. fence an area off to exclude grazing (by sheep, deer, whatever) to allow natural regeneration to take place

Or, planting. This would be of small trees or whips from the nursery. Not seeds. See this from the "glossary" at the end:

Tubex or Grow or Tuley Tubes
Tubes placed over newly planted trees or natural regeneration that promote growth and provide
protection from animals such as rabbits and deer.
Weeding
The control of vegetation immediately around newly planted trees or natural regeneration to promote
tree growth until they become established. Either by hand cutting or with carefully selected weed
killers such as glyphosate.

So look out for canes and grey plastic tubes around infant trees.

The link still works for me!

[eighthobstruction]

It still will not load for me....

....is this document about the actual Lyndhurst project?

[Richard Tarleton]

It still will not load for me....

....is this document about the actual Lyndhurst project?

It's the site management plan in .PDF format for 2010-2015. As I said above there's no mention of this particular "project" i.e. the fencing. In management plan speak a "project" [like this] is a piece of work which contributes to a management objective. Management objectives in turn are driven by overall aims, vision, whatever. The jargon may vary but the structure is pretty standard. They seem to have gone "off plan" with this.

8th if you want to pm me with an email address I can send it to you as a .pdf file email attachment.

[eighthobstruction]

After 8 days of trying to get coherent communication from WT, this has just arrived.


Thank you for your correspondence regarding the management of Lyndhurst Wood. Due to the level of concern generated by the work, we have decided to remove the fenced enclosure and look, through consultation over the coming months to decide the best course of action over the woods.





I would, however, like to explain the reasoning behind the works, which may well inform the future planning for the wood:





The work we started in Lyndhurst followed three years of monitoring, in which, due to the wood’s popularity and accessibility, the paths have increased to the extent that they now cover over 20% of the woodland floor. The path along the streamside, with public pressure has widened dramatically and the trampling damage to the defining ancient woodland ground flora is clear to see, species which are intolerant to damage and slow to recover.



Paths in the upper part of the woodland have become equally damaging, combined with shortcuts from the public footpath to the south, as well as numerous shortcuts down the wooded slope to the riverside. At only 2.5 acres, Lyndhurst Wood is unable to sustain this level of pressure.



Combined with the effects of pubic usage, the woodland is continuing to suffer the effects of tree disease, and losses to the mature woodland canopy. In the early years of Woodland Trust ownership, since 1990, the remnants of the elm were lost, and in recent years the effects of Horse chestnut Bleeding Canker have been clear – with just this last week in the gales, a further tree was lost, and another large mature tree at the entrance starting to show the symptoms. This is just one of an increasing suite of tree disease facing us – including ash dieback, and hence the urgency to protect the ground flora and the diversity of regenerating saplings to create a resilient woodland.



Fencing off blocks of the woodland to protect the ancient woodland species and to guide public access appeared the only sustainable way of ensuring the protection of the woodland that we need to do.



It is heartening to see the response regarding Lyndhurst Wood and there is obviously a great deal of affection for the woodland from a large number of the people who walk there on a regular basis, and I hope there will be a significant number of people who will work with us to safeguard the woodlands future.







Alistair Nash

[Flosshilde]

That seems to be a pretty good result, 8th. It's a pity that they hadn't understood the affection the local community had foir the woods before they started the work, & tried to involve people before they started work & damaged relations between the WT & the community. Lets hope that a more more mutually satisfying way of achieving their aims (which are, after all, positive & laudable) is found.

[eighthobstruction]

Yes that's my hope too....thanks

[Serial_Apologist]

Well done, eighth!

[eighthobstruction]

....cough ahem....comrade eighth....

[Serial_Apologist]

....cough ahem....comrade eighth....

Campaigns from the grass roots upwards are always best!

[eighthobstruction]

Just had a startling phone call....(when I was campaigning I gave out my phone number on flyers)....A very loud farmer type, I thought he was shouting, but obviously he is used to talking against the wind....I SUPPOSE YOU THINK YOU HAVE WON....YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING blaa blaaYOU NOT FROM ROUND HERE ARE YOU [I've lived here 21years) on and on talking about things that happened years ago....and obviously took a completely different take on information and communications that I have also read, but didn't really fancy me reading to him what it actually said....But sum result was that offtcomers aren't allowed to make decisions in Yorkshire.

[Serial_Apologist]

Just had a startling phone call....(when I was campaigning I gave out my phone number on flyers)....A very loud farmer type, I thought he was shouting, but obviously he is used to talking against the wind....YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING blaa blaaYOU NOT FROM ROUND HERE ARE YOU [I've lived here 21years) on and on talking about things that happened years ago....and obviously took a completely different take on information and communications that I have also read, but didn't really fancy me reading to him what it actually said....But sum result was that offtcomers aren't allowed to make decisions in Yorkshire.

Some people, wherever they are, will always take a fence (for granted). <winkeye>

[eighthobstruction]

I've now discovered what the motto of Woodland Trust is : OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY....

They have come back today taken down the netting, pulled out the posts and taken them away (do you think I should ask them to fill in all the holes if they have not < big winkeye>) Actually they will need filling in or people may twist ankles.

How juvenile flouncing out like that....and they STILL have not communicated/consulted with any member of the community....cutting off their nose to spite their face ....how pathetic....I guess we are supposed to feel shocked into thinking Oh no they've gone away, and they will never come back....well I certainly don't feel that: I shocked that they would waste probably £4000+ for the wages and miscellaneous things involved in putting it up, and have nothing whatsoever to show for it. Now the contractors are angry they are tearing about on their quad bike climbing the banks for fun and anger (whereas they have been picking about pretty carefully previously)....doing more harm in 10 seconds the 100 dogs would do in 10 years. Just as well all this work has gone on in the dry spell, I hate to think how rutted it would have got otherwise.

[Richard Tarleton]

8th, here's the Woodland Trust's Spring Catalogue (no emoticons on this board unfortunately)