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Holt Copse and Joel Park Local Nature Reserve Management Plan issued may 2001 revised May 2005
Management Plan
Summary This plan covers
those areas of Joel Park and Holt Copse that together comprise the Joel Park
and Holt Copse Local Nature Reserve. It includes all areas of woodland and the
open areas linking the woodland but does not include the other areas of open
parkland or play areas within Joel Park. The Plan comprises a series of general
and specific recommendations which, taken as a whole, provide a means of
achieving the overall plan objective To balance the conflicting demands
made upon the site by conservation and recreation The area covered
by the plan is mainly woodland and the plan recommendations are broadly that
areas that have been coppiced in the past should be recoppiced on a regular
basis, subject to certain provisions detailed in the recommendations, and areas
of high forest that have not been managed in that way before should be left largely
undisturbed. The previously
managed areas have seen a rampant growth of holly and laurel which has had the
effect of making the woodland very dark, severely restricting the growth of
other plant life. The coppicing recommendations are designed to remove this
unwanted growth, let in considerably more light and hence encourage
regeneration of the hazel and other plant species. The location of Holt Copse makes it a valuable
community asset. The uncontrolled growth in recent decades has reduced this
value by making the Copse dark and, too some extent, forbidding thereby
restricting public access. The recommendations, by opening up the Copse in a
controlled and managed fashion, will restore the public leisure and enjoyment
potential that was evident in the past. The Plan is a dynamic document that needs to be
reviewed regularly in order to reflect management work done during the review
period and take account of changing conservation and public aspirations. The
next review should be in 2010. Work Summary The principal
works and activities carried out by the Holt Copse Conservation Volunteers over
the last five years under the umbrella of the Management Plan have been
Management Plan
Review 2005 The original
Management Plan of May 2001 contained a note to review the Plan and coppicing
management in summer 2005. This review was undertaken by the Holt Copse
Conservation Volunteers (HCCV) with the advice and guidance of Andy Glencross,
Biodiversity Officer of Wokingham District Council Countryside Services, the
author of the original Management Plan. The HCCV have been working in Holt Copse
and Joel Park for the last six years with the authorization of Wokingham Town
Council, owners of the site, and have effectively been the agents of WTC in the
practical execution of much of the Management Plan. The review ranged
over all aspects of the Plan and work done in the Copse with the following
broad conclusions and suggestions :- ·
The general
and specific objectives of the Plan were being adhered to and pursued and these
objectives were endorsed for the future ·
The coppicing
work was proceeding largely in accordance with the Plan timescale ·
Known public
reaction, which initially had a marked negative content, was now almost
entirely favourable ·
The coppicing
was having a noticeably beneficial effect on regeneration ·
Coppicing has
resulted in rampant bramble growth. Bramble clearance in the coppiced
compartments should balance its natural vigorous growth cycle with the need for
visibility, particularly of the bluebells, for the public ·
Regrowth of
coppiced hazel was, as expected, less than would normally be achieved in a true
coppice woodland due to the density of the tree canopy ·
Coppicing is
opening up the woodland to such an extent that retention of islands of
deciduous trees during the first coppicing phase to improve visual appearance
was considered ·
The hazel in
some compartments was getting sparse and planting new hazel was recommended ·
The practice
of ‘dead hedging’ as a means of disposing of coppiced material to provide new
environments and preserve newly coppiced areas from public encroachment was
endorsed These points are
reflected where appropriate in the detailed management recommendations. site
details Name : Holt Copse
and Joel Park (P)LNR Area : 5.27ha Grid
Ref : SU804693 Ownership : Wokingham Town
Council owns the site freehold. Local Planning Authority : Wokingham
District Council Conservation Status : The whole of the area covered by the plan has been designated a Local Nature Reserve. Holt Copse itself
(compartments 1-8) is Ancient Semi-Natural woodland and has been further designated
a Wildlife Heritage Site. Access : The site has
free open access throughout. There are access points from Holt Lane, Jubilee
Lane and the Reading Road. site description Geology : The site lies on
the boundary of London Clay in the
north and Bagshot beds in the south. Consequently there is a line of springs
running east to west across the site. Compartments 1-8 - Holt
Copse : Holt Copse consists of 2.7ha of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (listed
in the English Nature Ancient Woodland Inventory 1995) and a Wildlife Heritage
Site ( designated by BBOWT and Wokingham District Council in the Local Plan Deposit Draft 1997). The
copse lies entirely on the London Clay and is classified as NVC community W10 Quercus
robur - Pteridium aquilinum - Rubus fruticosus woodland. See Appendix I
for species list. The site has been actively managed as a coppice with
standards within the last 50 years. In addition the site appears to have been
planted with oaks at sometime in the 19th Century, the site contains
even aged English oaks (Quercus robur)distributed over its
entire area. These oaks are currently limiting the viability of coppice
management of the hazel understory over much of the site. Compartment 9 - Small Glade
: This
area forms an open area between the site two main woodland areas. The
vegetation is dominated by bramble( Rubus fruticosus) towards the
southwest and by grass species to the northeast. There was once a pond in this
compartment, which lies entirely on bagshot beds. Compartment 10 - High Forest
area of Joel Park : This are of secondary woodland is dominated by
mature English oak and beech (Fagus sylvatica) with a sparse shrub
layer. It seems likely that it was planted at the same time that the copse was
planted with oaks. The boundary adjacent to the Reading Road is formed by a
planted hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) hedge. This area is much drier than the
copse and lies entirely on Bagshot beds. Compartment 11 & 12 -
The "Triangle" : This area is dominated by willow (Salix
sp.) scrub and bramble interspersed with grassy areas. A ditch runs
along the western boundary. The area is damp throughout the year as it lies
entirely on London Clay. Compartment 13 - Large Glade
:
This area consists of an area of wet
grassland containing a good population of Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) and
a row of semi mature non-native red oaks (Quercus rubra). site objectives The main aim of this Management Plan is to : - (1)
To balance the conflicting demands made upon the
site by conservation and recreation This can be broken down into the following specific objectives : - (a)
To maintain and enhance the wildlife value of the
site. (b)
To ensure that Holt Copse has achieved” favourable”
or “unfavourable recovering” management status. (c)
To provide for quiet recreational use of the site by
the general public. (d)
To provide an opportunity for involving the local
community in countryside management. (e)
To investigate, develop and promote the site as an educational resource. Main Management Operations Compartment 1 (0.36ha) – Present habitat: Coppice woodland
Desired habitat: Coppice woodland Mgt
Recommendation – Coppicing of this compartment has been completed
·
Monitor regeneration of
coppiced hazel understory. ·
Clear bramble growth from sections of the compartment Compartment 2 (0.41ha) – Present habitat : Coppice
woodland Desired habitat: Coppice woodland Mgt
Recommendation – To re-coppice this compartment in four
roughly equal sections over 4 years (see coppice plan map). This has been
largely completed
·
Coppice the final section in winter 2006/7 after the hedge has achieved
substantial growth ·
Monitor and encourage the growth of the hedge planted in 2004. ·
Clear bramble growth from sections of the compartment Compartment 3 (0.55ha) – Present habitat : Coppice woodland
Desired habitat : Coppice woodland Mgt
Recommendation – To re-coppice this compartment in three
roughly equal sections over 3 years (see coppice plan map).
·
Coppice compartment in three sections in winter of 2004/5, 2005/6 &
2006/7. ·
Leave drifts of deciduous trees during first coppicing ·
Clear bramble growth from sections of the compartment ·
Plant hazel whips in sparsely filled areas Compartment 4 (0.20ha) – Present habitat : Coppice woodland
Desired habitat : High forest Mgt Recommendation – Allow to develop into high forest in order to
maintain screen for adjoining gardens. ·
Remove rhododendron and laurel and kill stumps in winter 2003/4. ·
Monitor and remove seedlings of rhododendron and laurel annually. Compartment 5 (0.25ha) – Present habitat : Coppice woodland
Desired habitat: High forest/coppice woodland Mgt Recommendation – Allow to develop into high forest in order to
maintain screen for adjoining gardens. ·
Remove rhododendron and laurel and kill stumps in winter 2004/5. ·
Monitor and remove seedlings of rhododendron and laurel annually. Compartment 6 (0.44ha) – Present habitat: Coppice woodland
Desired habitat: High forest/coppice woodland Mgt Recommendation – No coppice management for the next 5 years. It may be
appropriate to re-coppice this compartment in the future (subject to coppice
review in 2010). ·
Remove rhododendron and laurel and kill stumps in winter 2005/6. ·
Monitor and remove seedlings of rhododendron and laurel annually. Compartment 7 (0.24ha) – Present habitat: High forest
Desired habitat: High forest Mgt Recommendation – Allow to develop as high forest. Cut back
undergrowth only to keep footpaths clear. ·
Remove rhododendron and laurel and kill stumps in winter 2006/7. ·
Monitor and remove seedlings of rhododendron and laurel annually. Compartment 8 (0.18ha) – Present habitat: High forest
Desired habitat: High forest Mgt Recommendation – Allow to develop as high forest. Cut back
undergrowth only to keep footpaths clear. ·
Remove rhododendron and laurel and kill stumps in winter 2007/8. ·
Monitor and remove seedlings of rhododendron and laurel annually. Compartment 9 (0.24ha) – Present habitat: Amenity Grassland
Desired habitat: Amenity
Grassland/Woodland glade Mgt Recommendation – If the local residents feel there is a need for a
kickabout area for local children then this area is suitable. If however no
need is identified then this area would make an ideal woodland glade. ·
Investigate potential uses of this area particularly the restoration of
the pond. ·
Remove new tree/shrub growth to preserve as woodland glade Compartment 10 (1.22ha) – Present habitat: High forest
Desired habitat: High forest Mgt Recommendation – Allow to develop as high forest. Cut back
undergrowth only to keep footpaths clear. ·
Remove rhododendron and laurel and kill stumps in winter 2008/9. ·
Monitor and remove seedlings of rhododendron and laurel annually. ·
Lay hedge along Reading Road boundary in winter of 2001/2, 2002/3 &
2003/4. ·
Consider planting bluebells to encourage further spread Compartment 11 (0.22ha) - Present habitat:
Scrub Desired habitat: Scrub Mgt Recommendation – This
area has been left undisturbed for over a decade
and this should be allowed to continue ·
Non-intervention area. ·
Monitor and encourage the growth of the hedge of native species planted
along the Jubilee Avenue border in 2005 ·
Remove fence after the hedge has achieved substantial growth ·
Monitor and remove seedlings of rhododendron and laurel annually. Compartment 12 (0.26ha) - Present habitat; Scrub and trees Desired habitat: Scrub and trees ·
Non-intervention area. Compartment 13 (0.64ha) - Present habitat: Wet grassland and
trees Desired habitat: Wet grassland and trees Mgt Recommendation – Maintain and enhance diversity of grassland area. ·
Adjust grass mowing regime to leave meadow flowers area uncut until
mid-summer, grass cuttings to be removed ·
Carry out botanical survey of meadow in summer each year. ·
Investigate potential for introducing species by plug planting in
summer 2006/7. General Site Management ·
Upgrade footpath surfaces in summer of each year. (See Management Map). ·
Monitor breeding birds in summer of each year. ·
Ensure that any trees that are a risk to the public are made safe. ·
Carry out visitor survey in summer 2005. ·
Carry out review of Plan and coppice management in summer 2010. ·
Produce annual site report (Incidents, events and wildlife) each year. ·
Monitor and control occurrences of Spanish Bluebel and other potentially
invasive ‘garden escapes’. ·
Place squirrel-proof nest boxes to encourage breeding | ||