Definition of woodland?

[spandit]

I recently contacted Ordnance Survey to enquire about naming a block of woodland on the map. They replied that for this to happen, the woodland needs to be either open to the public (it's not) or 1 hectare (2.47 acres) in size.

 

Now, our site is about 10.5 acres (4.2 hectares) but the trees are planted in blocks. From what I can tell, the total area we've planted is about 3 acres, so well in excess of the criteria, but not all of it is in a contiguous block. Some of the gaps between sections are quite small, no more than 5 metres but wondered if this is likely to qualify as one woodland or not?

 

If the trees were all planted at 3m spacings in a grid, the number I've planted would account for 3.6 acres but the planting density varies.

 

Anyone done this?

[Stubby]

I recently contacted Ordnance Survey to enquire about naming a block of woodland on the map. They replied that for this to happen, the woodland needs to be either open to the public (it's not) or 1 hectare (2.47 acres) in size.

 

Now, our site is about 10.5 acres (4.2 hectares) but the trees are planted in blocks. From what I can tell, the total area we've planted is about 3 acres, so well in excess of the criteria, but not all of it is in a contiguous block. Some of the gaps between sections are quite small, no more than 5 metres but wondered if this is likely to qualify as one woodland or not?

 

If the trees were all planted at 3m spacings in a grid, the number I've planted would account for 3.6 acres but the planting density varies.

 

Anyone done this?

 

Just give the total external dimension the gaps are the rides . Cant see why you name it as it meets the criteria .

Edited March 8, 2015 by Stubby

[spandit]

According to: Forestry Commission - Forestry Statistics 2005 - Sources & definitions

 

The definition of woodland in United Kingdom forestry statistics is land under stands of trees with a canopy cover of at least 20% (or having the potential to achieve this), including integral open space

 

If my calculations are correct, a tree with a 5m canopy (potentially) covers roughly 20m2. This means that it can be planted in a 10mx10m grid and still fulfil the definition of woodland. Some of the oaks I've planted are quite widely spaced but potentially have a massive canopy...

 

According to their statistics, which admittedly are quite old now, I've planted approximately 0.000044% of trees in the UK!

[Lucan]

The FC have a scheme called the National Forest Inventory (NFI). Ordnance Survey seem to have a different set of rules for defining a woodland.

 

If you were determining whether the wood meets the NFI criteria or not;

 

Is the woodland >0.5ha?

Is the woodland >20m wide?

Is the canopy cover >20% or have the potential to achieve this through maturation of the crop? (this even includes any saplings and seedlings)

 

Whether gaps split a woodland it depends on whether they are permanent features (ie roads, tarmac, etc) and the distance between potential driplines

 

For calculating the woodland area, if there are no boundary features (fences, walls) then you would measure from the stem line, although sometimes the dripline depending on the neighbouring land use.

[spandit]

Thanks, that's useful. Does the woodland width include canopy (or potential) or is it stem to stem? My largest contiguous block is in excess of 0.5ha but to join it to other blocks using your definition may prove tricky.

 

I was going to wait a few years until the woodland had grown but sounds like it qualifies now, as it's composed of saplings and seedlings.

 

However, if I had a field where 20% was covered in trees but concentrated in one block on the edge (assuming 100% canopy coverage in that block) would the entire field count as a woodland?

[Lucan]

The width is stem to stem, but it can be <20m if the trees are bridging two larger woodlands or is a small bit jotting out

 

For the field/woodland you would split it, however there is always going to be a grey area where the gradient/transition is less apparent

 

You can have non-NFI woodlands though, the NFI category is basically a cut-off point of whether the woodland is of signaficant size and importance to measure. The aim is to measure in detail 1% of UK woodlands and then use that info with computer/aerial imagery to get a good idea of UK woodlands (species, ages, composition, timber potential, wildlife, etc).

[spandit]

The width is stem to stem, but it can be <20m if the trees are bridging two larger woodlands or is a small bit jotting out

 

 

Ah, that could help push me over the area required - I have a single row of oaks joining two patches of woodland. I'll upload some pictures in due course

[Richard 1234]

Just out of interest why do you want it naming on the maps?

[spandit]

Just out of interest why do you want it naming on the maps?

 

Vanity

[Sussex Groundie]

The one I am working on is called a "Plantation" as it was 1500 Scots Pine planted some yrs ago, maybe you could go with this if "Woodland" is not an option?