Phase 2: Regenerating native woodland Phase 2 – regenerating native woodland
Does the current management allow the regeneration of native trees that are appropriate for the objectives at the site?
Continue with current management
Consider all factors that are likely to limit the potential for regeneration and carry out relevant treatment
Excessive herbivore impacts
Competitive vegetation
• Too few parent trees • Too much seed predation • Young seedlings failing to establish • Inappropriate species
Manage herbivore populations, exclude animals from the site or protect trees
Use appropriate methods to manage vegetation
Plant trees to restock or enrich the site with desirable species that are failing to establish
Light
Too little
Too much
Wait for canopy cover to develop and carry out management to encourage regeneration
Is the stand sufficiently stable and accessible to allow regular thinning, and does the plantation comprise non-invasive species?
Are you prepared to wait for a long time beyond economic maturity?
Clearfell following Phase 1
Thin to marginal intensity well beyond normal rotation
Carry out heavy thinning and/or group felling around mature trees and remnant patches of desirable ground flora (removing ~40–50% of the basal area of plantation species). The remainder of the plantation should be removed after assessing the information gathered during monitoring.
Monitor the effectiveness of management
Note that any operations to regenerate a native woodland must not have an adverse effect on the ancient woodland remnants.
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