Woodland Glade creation and Management

[Matthew Arnold]

About 5 years ago we cleared an area of woodland on one of the site i manage to creat a woodland glade for butterflies and other things. Over ther past couple fo years we have set up a brushcutting regime to reduce the brambles and dogwood and improve the biodiversity of the area. It seems to be working very well. We had Common Twayblade (Orchid), Dog Violet and Devils-bit Scabious come up. We rake off the moss to allow the seed bank underneath to germinate. I have attached some pictures from early this year of the brushcutting, raking and burning regime and some of the Common Twayblade (Listera ovata that appeared this year.

[Giles Hill]

Nice one, it's good to see things coming to plan and start seeing the results. Amazing how these woodland plants are there and just waiting for the right conditions - something that would take several decades to achieve if you were statrting with new plantation.

 

What's the story with that wood BTW? It looks a strange mix of secondary woodland and random conifers from the pics.

[Matthew Arnold]

It was a Victorian Garden and Arboretum. Its full of wierd and wonderful plants that wouldnt be there normally. We've got Apple mint and lots and lots of Lemon Thyme. The arboretum was sadly lost in the 1983 storm. But a few trees survived. The Monkey Puzzles and fir trees we're part of the arboretum that survived but we have a Massive Beech that doesnt know if its a Copper or the normal variety which is quite quirky. We plan to do another load of tree felling this winter to extend the butterfly area and fell some very dodgy trees. We shall and try to create some semi natural monoliths (fell big tree into dead neighbour to knock branches out). It is very effective as we know then if the dead tree will be strong enough to windstand the strong south westerlies.

[David oakman]

Good thread i have been doing the same here for years brought back early purple orchids. This year i am putting in a large glade where we know frittillarys used to grow:001_smile:

[Matthew Arnold]

Its great fun because if a member of the public comes over. We just use the words conservation, wildflowers, butterflies and free logs and then they are happy for the work we are doing.

[David oakman]

I am clearing an area now in a wetland area i have got two glades they were full of butterflies and moths also i have to keep thickets for the nightingales:001_smile: