Plans for the Wood in 2024
An overview of the continuing work by the forest manager, David Lambert, and the Trustees to preserve and develop the habitat
As we enter the summer it would seem that some sort of warmth has at last arrived as we are finally seeing some butterflies, bees, moths and insects.
We are still in the bird breeding season, so much forest management activity is restricted. Other than routine tending, weeding, watering trees planted earlier in the year, there is no significant activity going on.
We are, however, collecting up several thousand redundant tree tubes that will go for recycling. We are also conducting our annual summer swiping of rides etc, the aim being to maintain open areas that will let light in creating warm, sheltered areas where a more diverse array of plants and wildlife can develop.
We are gently pushing forward with plans scheduled for the back end of the year. This includes a new pond to be created in Dean Copse, 12 acres of deer fencing in New Berryfield Copse to protect coppice, and 10 acres of deer fencing in Cowley’s Copse to protect next winter’s tree planting of oak, sallow, wild service, native shrubs — and white elm/disease resistant elm if we can get them.
Our thinning plans are a bit up in the air due to the continued wet weather but, if plans go ahead, a light thin of the beech and Douglas fir in Richwellsted Copse, a light thin of beech and diseased ash in Picked copse and adjacent to Pound Ride are planned for the north of the wood.
Along the central belt we will thin out the pine behind the barn that is suffering from blight and thin the mixed conifer in the continuous cover stands near the Livery Gate. In the south of the wood we hope to heavily thin diseased ash from the wetter areas of Howe Copse East with a view to fencing out the deer at a later date to encourage the regeneration of oak, aspen and sallow.
Ongoing thinning is an essential activity that allows trees to thrive and mature. As we hopefully move to a dry and warm period the Trustees continue to be very grateful to all the Friends for their support and engagement.
Please do continue to challenge any visitors who may perhaps be lighting fires or barbecues or may be unaware how very special Bentley Wood is, a place that we all love and enjoy and which needs our continued protection
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