February 2012


Hollybank Woods, Emsworth, Hampshire.


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Forestry


Forestry work is only carried out between 9.00am and dusk. No forestry vehicles or teams will be in the woodland outside of these hours.

All felled timber within the woodland is used within Hollybank Woods or retained as log piles to create wildlife habitat. Removal of timber from log stacks, or any other cut timber, is treated as theft.


FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 07.02.2012
10.00am to dusk. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 06.02.2012
10.30am to 3.30pm. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 05.02.2012
No forestry work.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 04.02.2012
9.30am to dusk. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 03.02.2012
9.30am to dusk. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK: Advance notice 03.02.2012 ongoing until March
11.00am to 3.00pm. Please be aware of coppice work in the southern central woodland alongside the main bridleway running from the top of the track at the southern entrance (Hollybank Lane) up to the central crossroads.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 01.02.2012
9.30am to 1.00pm. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 25.01.2012
9.30am to 1.00pm. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 21.01.2012
9.30am to 1.00pm. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation. Heavy plant and chipping machinery will be in operation.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 20.01.2012
9.30am to 12.30pm. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK: Advance notice 20.01.2012 ongoing until March
11.00am to 3.00pm. Please be aware of coppice work in the southern central woodland alongside the main bridleway running from the top of the track at the southern entrance (Hollybank Lane) up to the central crossroads.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 18.01.2012
9.30am to 4.00pm. Please be aware of holly, scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central eastern woodland. This is part of the site preparation for the new Jubilee Plantation.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 18.01.2012
10.00am to 12.00pm. Please be aware of scrub and bracken clearing currently in progress within the central southern woodland. This is to prepare the bluebell areas ahead of spring.





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 12.11.2011 to 14.12.2011
Please be aware of forestry work currently in progress alongside the Emsworth Common Road (eastern and western woodland).





FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 12.06.2011 - ongoing until September
Please be aware of forestry work currently in progress within the plantation area (eastern woodland), and alongside the Emsworth Common Road (eastern woodland).




FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 22.11.2010 - 26.11.2010
Please be aware of forestry work currently in progress from 22nd to 26th November within the plantation area (eastern woodland), and alongside the Emsworth Common Road (eastern woodland).


Warning signs are displayed on paths when forestry work is in progress. (PHOTO: AB)


FORESTRY WORK UPDATE: 03.05.2010
Please be aware of forestry work currently in progress along the main fire track in the central and western woodland. A review ahead of the summer months has shown that the fire tracks have become too over grown for fire engines to access the central woodland. Forestry work is underway to widen these tracks to ensure we can move fire appliances into the central woodland in the event of an emergency.

The forestry work will include selective removal of small trees that hinder fire engines turning corners along the main fire track, and clearance of scrub to ensure the track will allow a fire engine to pass.

Please keep children and dogs at a safe distance from forestry work and heed signs that inform you of work being carried out on the paths ahead. Work will continue for the next two weeks at various times of day.




Log piles offer vital winter shelter for insects during winter months. (PHOTO: AB)



February 2010 (Update by: AB) - Sycamore felling

If you have been walking in Hollybank Woods over the last ten days you will be aware that we have taken down a number of established Sycamore trees. Further Sycamore trees will be felled this month and felling will increase during March.

By far our commonest species of maple, and always a subject of dispute as to whether Sycamore is a native British tree, in an ancient woodland such as Hollybank Woods it is highly invasive. Seed pods are produced every year which spin off the trees in great numbers to be carried on the wind over a wide area, encouraging a rapid spread of the species. The seed is, to put it mildly, extremely fertile and not restricted in where it will germinate.

Many woods are now invaded by Sycamore, which will grow vigorously in shade and reaches maturity very quickly, so woods rapidly become a monoculture of sycamore. This is a serious threat to ancient woodland such as Hollybank Woods where Oak and Beech struggle to compete for both light and soil nutrients. Unless managed, Sycamore quickly dominates a wood to the exclusion of other trees, causing serious damage to woodland biodiversity.


Preparing to clear ivy from a felled Sycamore. (PHOTO: AB)



For this reason we are addressing the situation in Hollybank Woods now rather than wait until we reach crisis point. Already some areas of our ancient woodland environment here is suffering from the yearly increase in Sycamore saplings. Whilst we can fight this by constant cutting back of new growth, our main option for control is to remove a proportion of the established Sycamore population, there in decreasing the yearly seed drop.

Whilst we have no intention of removing every established Sycamore from the woodland, after all they support just as many lichens as an Oak, and the abundant Sycamore leaf litter attracts many worms and rich humus develops as a result. However, the negative side of Sycamore domination has to be addressed.

In the short term we do understand some walkers in the wood may be concerned about the number of trees that are being felled, but this is part of a very carefully considered and planned management strategy to address what is a serious problem for the future biodiversity of Hollybank Woods.

We also need to carry out this felling before the sap starts to rise. At this time of year the actual weight of the tree itself is low, which results in less ground and airial damage as a result of the tree being brought down.


Trees scheduled for felling can be identified by a blue spray mark. (PHOTO: AB)



Please note: Where felling work is taking place there will be plenty of warning signs on approach paths and the forestry team will ensure walkers and riders are directed to safe routes during felling operations.




Chris Bain, Hollybank Woods Forestry Officer (left), on site carrying out instruction and training. Part of the Forestry Training Services Ltd / Hollybank Woods initiative to train forestry workers from other sites to consider the environmental impact of forestry work within a conservation area. (PHOTO: AB)





Why is so much felling debris and timber being left?

Regardless of which type of tree is being felled, be it Sycamore or Birch, or indeed any other tree, keeping the debris, branches and logs where the tree is felled provides a key and vital stage in the regeneration process of the area around where the tree previously stood.


Felling debris creates habitat for regeneration. (PHOTO: AB)



Insects, fungal spores and lichens that will have been on the tree itself or in the bark are part of the woodland biodiversity.


Bracket fungus on felled Birch log. (PHOTO: AB)



By allowing the piles of cut branches and logs to rot down naturally we put nutrians back into the woodland, create habitat and shelter for insects, mammals, fungus and woodland plants.


As log piles rot down they create vital habitat for beatles and moss. (PHOTO: AB)



By removing all the felled timber and tree debris we would be reducing biodiversity, and our aim is to increase biodiversity. For this reason the log piles and tree debris have a very important role in regeneration of the felling sites.



Freshly felled log piles. (PHOTO: AB)





In the first few years logs begin to decay and the woodland starts to reclaim them. Moss cloaks the decaying wood whilst insects and wood beetles go about their duties. Fungus spores already in the bark and surrounding habitat quickly spread through the decaying timber. Over the years the woodland reclaims and recycles the log pile fully. (PHOTO: AB)




Please note: Where felling work is taking place there will be plenty of warning signs on approach paths and the forestry team will ensure walkers and riders are directed to safe routes during felling operations.

If you are out walking and you see a warning triangle ahead by the path, please proceed with care. You may have to wait at a safe distance whilst felling takes place. Please also be aware that you may be requested to follow an alternative path by the forestry team at work. All efforts will be made to allow you to proceed on your chosen path, but for safety reasons this may not always be possible. We appreciate that this may be an inconvenience but for health and safety reasons the forestry team have to follow regulations when working in a woodland open to the public.

Hollybank Woods is both a public space to enjoy and also (in the plantation area) a working woodland, but above all the wood is a conservation site and in order to preserve this we may at times have to close paths temporarily during forestry operations.

You may also find that on some occassions your route is made difficult by having to negotiate 4-wheel drive vehicles parked up near the forestry work sites. Once again, for safety reasons and for movement of equipment this is a necessary part of the woodland management. At any one time we try our best to ensure no more that three vehicles are on site within the woodland. At best we will try and ensure two vehicles, but often three are required in order to comply with health and safety requirements.

Emsworth Common Road has a green metal bar access gate, please ensure you do not obstruct access. This gate and the turning area alongside the road is for forestry and emergency access. Access is required 24 hours a day.

Flora and habitat protection.



Wood Anemones. (PHOTO: AB)


All forestry work carried out in Hollybank Woods is governed by strict conservation principles. Before a tree is felled the site is inspected to assess environmental impact and to ensure minimal damage is caused to surrounding habitat.

Careful consideration is also given to where forestry debris and logs are stacked to ensure swift habitat regeneration.

In the plantation area close to the stream toads are a common occurrence. Before felling a tree the base and fall area is checked and any toads located are moved a safe distance away. Trees are assessed for small invertebrates, mammals and birds. We have even been known to move caterpillars if this is considered beneficial to a particular moth or butterfly!

Felling a tree will of course always result in some damage to both the surrounding habitat, flora and fauna, this is inevitable. We do not fell trees without reason, we fell trees to ensure habitat regeneration and to conserve the flora and fauna of this ancient woodland.

However, on balance the long term benefits of our forestry work to improve the woodland conservation is critical in the medium to long term, even if the short term result may appear to scar the woodland.

Spring and summer will of course bring new growth to the forest and as the ground cover flora increases so the scars of felling will recede.




Friends of Hollybank Woods


About and how to join:
The Friends of Hollybank Woods are a group of local residents who formed in the Spring of 2001 to promote the protection of Hollybank Woods. The wood is owned by Havant Borough Council and managed on its behalf by the Friends of Hollybank Woods who organise regular work parties and themed walks run by local naturalists. The group formed a management committee and undertake well planned conservation work in the woods for the benefit of both wildlife and people using the woods.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved, not just for those who want to do practical work. We need your support!

To receive a Membership Application pack and become a Friend, please contact the Friends of Hollybank Woods membership secretary. Membership costs £1.50 for an adult and £3.00 for a family. Under 16's free.

Anna Williams
Membership Secretary
Friends of Hollybank Woods
Hollybank House
Emsworth
PO10 7UN

Telephone Anna on (01243) 375502




You can email us too, contact details are on the Blog page.









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