Current Management Plan summary for 2025-2026

Filnore Woods Management plan annexe March 2025

Areas/compartments with long term aims and proposed work for the year 2025-26  

	COMPARTMENT OR AREA		LONG TERM AIM		SHORT TERM
1	Welcome area		Keep as short grass Maintain tool store		Maintain by monthly cut in growing season
2	Stream Crossing		Maintain		Reinforce eroding bank downstream
3	Cuckoo Pen		Coppice with standards – one coupe per year Utilise derelict cowshed as a campfire site, wood store or e.g. stage for an amphitheatre		Coppice a section of  hazel in winter 2023-24 Fell dead trees near paths and thin out some trees to allow in more light Clear nettles round fallen oak Remove trees crowding the three limes
4	Paddock		Hazel coppice		Maintain cleared areas by coppicing and keep path through to Vilner Lane clear
5	Old Plantation		Non-intervention		Leave fallen trees to rot Maintain path Fell dead trees and prune dead branches overhanging path Plant occasional conifers for birds
6	Jubilee Way		Maintain		Keep encroaching brambles under control
7	Beech plantation between  Jubilee Way and Viewpoint		Return to grassland with a few trees as part of grassy slope Maintain southern boundary		Remove bramble and blackthorn roots with mattocks to promote wild flowers Reinforce fence at top of slope
8	Grassy slope below Viewpoint		Wildflower rich grassland with occasional trees, mainly oaks planted by jays		Cut and collect grass, one third of area each year Remove brambles gradually
		COMPARTMENT OR AREA		LONG TERM		SHORT TERM
9		Viewpoint woodland		Maintain as beech and yew woodland plus other species		No action other than controlling blackthorn
10		Viewpoint		Keep as short grass		Maintain by monthly cut in growing season
11		Rough area near post 6		Non-intervention		Maintain the few trees present, control blackthorn. Use as dump for cut grass scythed on Viewpoint area
12		Hazel plantation		Hazel coppice with a few standards,		No action this year
13		Path and steps either side of Footbridge		Maintain this heavily used path		Keep steps repaired and topped with woodchip; some stone to reinforce middle of steps in winter. Continue experimenting with sloping path – trenches, cross-sticks, stone, woodchip, etc
14		Valley woodland east		Maintain as high forest with a light canopy and clearings for wildflowers		Keep path repaired and levelled with woodchip, removing overhanging branches and cutting back encroaching blackthorn. Thin out some of the trees gradually to increase light to woodland floor Maintain leaky dams
15		Valley woodland west		Eventually the same as valley woodland east.  This slope was formerly rich in wild flowers		No action this year
16		Ash Wood (adjoining Valley Woodland)		High forest		No action this year

 

	COMPARTMENT OR AREA	LONG TERM	SHORT TERM
17	Ride below pylon from bottom of slope as far as footbridge	Flower-rich grassland	Cut and collect one half of grass annually In future years cut back encroaching bramble
18	New Plantation	Coppice with standards	No action this year
19	Ride from West Corner up to Memorial limes	Maintain as a wide ride so that it dries out better Maintain steps at west corner into allotment field	Prevent further encroachment by brambles  In future cut back brambles by 3metres Repair steps at west corner (more robustly)
20	Memorial lime area	Keep as short grass	Maintain by monthly cut in growing season
21	Hilltop Pond	Maintain in the hope of welcoming amphibians	Some pruning of trees to let in more light to encourage marginal flowering plants.
22	Hilltop Wood Pasture and Meadow	Wood pasture with pollarded trees and flowering plants	Cut and collect one third of grass annually
23	Everywhere	Keep litter free	Collect litter
24	Everywhere	Maintain safety for visitors	Monthly walk round to assess risks and mitigate where necessary
25	Picnic bench, 3 benches at viewpoint, (one near pylon), one near memorial limes	Maintain seating - 5 at present	Repair erosion at viewpoint
26	20 numbered posts	Maintain posts as a guide for visitors	Paint numbers and renew stripes as required

Alan Watts, March 2025