[Moon Maiden]

Have read in the Sheffield Weekly Gazette today about a £2million grant from Heritage lottery fund to manage the forests of Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

Just wondered if anyone has ever seen what happens to these so called managed forests? They are not forests or even woodland - just a small collection of trees.

Whilst I welcome the interests in protecting our forests from erosion and litter mongering - is it really necessary to fell trees?

And since when did it become necessarty to 'manage' forest and woodland? Have they suddenly lost the ability to grow all by themselves?

Moon Maiden

[RPG]

if youve ever been on bochum parkway you'll have seen the sign:

"SOUTH YORKSHIRE FOREST" but not a tree is in sight

[Geoff]

Originally posted by "Moon Maiden"

And since when did it become necessarty to 'manage' forest and woodland? Have they suddenly lost the ability to grow all by themselves?

Maybe those pointless "City Centre Ambassadors" could help out?

[richard]

Near my home town in Cheshire is Delamere forest which has done well due to management. They designated an area for the production of Christmas trees which provides them with a good deal of funding to then look after the rest of the forest and plant trees that will encourage various birds to visit nd look after the other creatures of the forest.

[Moon Maiden]

Maybe those pointless "City Centre Ambassadors" could help out?

MMM can you see them in their suits gettin stuck in clearin the rubbish out the rivers in Rivelin???

"Oh look - used condom how nice "

I do realise that in the right hands forest management can benefit the environment and local populous and leave the forest intact. However after witnessing the massacre of my local woods back in bonny Barnsley I cannot help but suspect the same will be done in Sheffield.

Having only recently moved here, I see in Sheffields woodland what was once in Barnsley's - and it wasn't a burnt out ford Escort.

Moon Maiden

[Paul Cocker]

Why not approach your local councellor and ask them what the plans are?

I am sure they will be only too pleased to stutter and not truely know anything about it.

The South Yorkshire Forest is not a forest itself, it is something a little different. It is part of a national community forest scheme, where regions, which are designated as in need of econmic and environmental regeneration, are given money by this organisation. If you want to find out more I'm sure they have a website!

Whith regards to the second issue of forest management - yes in fact most forests, woodlands, copses, and small collections of trees need to be managed for many reasons, which include encouraging regeneration, continued growth of and maintence of wildlife value and for health and safety reasons (especially in woodlands that are heavily used by the public).

Most importantly many of the ancient woodlands have been shaped by woodland management through a system of coppicing and pollarding and natural grazing, our wildlife has developed alongside this practice which has continued for a very long time. The problem is that now we no longer manage our woodlands and so many have lost their wildlife value.

On a final note, while you think your local wood may have been devestated by its management - it probably hasn't - (the conservation rangers that work for local authorites do know what they are doing) plants, especially trees are slow growing and it takes a little time to see the benefits - however I'm sure the wildlife will notice them before you do!

[nigel]

Check out the BTCV, they are heavly involved in Sheffield's woodland and green spaces. I'm sure they will be able to tell you the management plan for the woods. If you feel strongly their always looking for more helpers.

Personally I think the green spaces and empty industrial ones being slowly reclaimed by nature are one of the best features of sheffield. We're much better off for greenery than Manchester where I used to live. Whether it's by good management or happy accident we're more fortunate I'll leave to other posters.

[halevan]

Yes, it is necessary to manage the forest's surrounding sheffield,as any one knows,the trees grow much better when thinned out, and are given more room.I also,do not like to see any tree felled,but this is a fact of nature. To manage the forest's,result's in more luxurious growth and healthier trees. Therefore,leaving the natural beauty for future generation's to enjoy. I love the countryside and forest's, surrounding this lovely city, I and thousand's more(as we see on our travels), also, enjoy it.
Harold Evans-wilkinson. Jan. 29'03.

[Moon Maiden]

Have trees suddenly lost the ability to grow all by themselves?

Still stand by that last comment - a little bit presumtous of us to think we can do a better job than nature don't you think?? Protecting the natural areas against yeah - kewl - but interfereing - you should be shot.

We're much better off for greenery than Manchester where I used to live

Well my first views of Manchester was a glue sniffer underneath the motorway bridge :shock: There are growing numbers of abandoned industrial areas in Sheffield - I wish someone would do something with them - like build or return them to a natural state.

See some people are never satisfied.

Moon Maiden

It is a bit presumptuous of us to think we can do a better job than nature, though really you should have been around telling folks that a couple of thousand years ago As it is, most 'natural spaces' in the UK are managed in some way, and have been for a very long time, with the effect being that nature has adapted and species used to the managed environment have established themselves. To keep the current balance, we need to keep managing the woodlands. It's no different to managing hedgerows - they're not exactly natural but they support such a diverse range of species that they're now an integral part of our ecosystem. Take those out and you devastate the careful balance of nature in the areas hedgerows are in. Admittedly, stopping managing woodland wouldn't have quite such a drastic effect, but it would be noticeable, and short term eyesores of chopped down trees is a small price to pay in comparison. Like you I just hope they don't chop down too many

[Chris]

will remember to log in before I post again - sorry, that last post was mine. *thinks* is there any chance of having a 'reminder' on this site when you try posting as a guest (accidentally or otherwise)? Or perhaps remove the guest option altogether.

[tree lover]

I couldn't agree more! Sheffield Council think manage and destroy are the same thing. This is happening all over the city and our councillors don't care, not even those from the Green Party. Could the fact that they have wood-burning heating schemes that need feeding have anything to do with it?
Perhaps when they need our votes at the next election they will have a change of heart.

Originally Posted by Moon Maiden

Have read in the Sheffield Weekly Gazette today about a £2million grant from Heritage lottery fund to manage the forests of Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

Just wondered if anyone has ever seen what happens to these so called managed forests? They are not forests or even woodland - just a small collection of trees.

Whilst I welcome the interests in protecting our forests from erosion and litter mongering - is it really necessary to fell trees?

And since when did it become necessarty to 'manage' forest and woodland? Have they suddenly lost the ability to grow all by themselves?

Moon Maiden

[skanky]

You get nowhere just chopping trees down for fuel. New ones take longer to grow than coppiced ones. When woodlands were set-up and managed, they were coppiced as a way of sustainably obtaining fuel. The coppiced trees regrow back and in the meantime the open areas allow other types of wildlife into the space, until the regrowth is complete. Meantime another area gets coppiced and the wildlife moves to that area. Having been involved in this process in the past I have seen how well it works.

Also, there are other habitats other than woodland, and sometimes where woodland has encroached on that habitat, you need to clear the trees to restore it. If we allowed the forests to regrow back everywhere they used to, you could say goodbye to a huge range of wildlife.

Try contacting someone like Wildlife Trusts - they may have a volunteer scheme where you can help out with management. It's a very satisfying activity.

[alex3659]

Originally Posted by RPG

if youve ever been on bochum parkway you'll have seen the sign:

"SOUTH YORKSHIRE FOREST" but not a tree is in sight

if by bochum parkway you mean the one that runs at the side of jordanthorpe you must be blind . there's woods all the way down as far as the boundary social club . you can walk through the woods from jordanthorpe all the way to ford , ridgeway , coal aston,trowey and eckington , these are in full view of bochum parkway about 10 yards from the road.

[beckelina]

Originally Posted by tree lover

I couldn't agree more! Sheffield Council think manage and destroy are the same thing. This is happening all over the city and our councillors don't care, not even those from the Green Party. Could the fact that they have wood-burning heating schemes that need feeding have anything to do with it?
Perhaps when they need our votes at the next election they will have a change of heart.

I hope that the changes you have seen in the woodlands of Sheffield over the last 5 years have convinced you that woodland management is no bad thing and ditch the conspiracy theories.

A lot of the woods in Sheffield do benefit from appropriate management and can provide a sustainable source of energy whilst benefiting biodiversity and access.

Perhaps 'tree lover' you should find out a bit more about the theory behind the Council's management plans before flying off the handle.

[price]

Originally posted by "Moon Maiden"

And since when did it become necessarty to 'manage' forest and woodland? Have they suddenly lost the ability to grow all by themselves?

If woodland isn't managed, it's called neglect . If you'd been in neglected woodland you'd hardly be able to move about in it, believe me. Also it's been necessary for thousands of years otherwise our ancestors wouldn't(I nearly put woodn't) have have the proper size wood for making implement handles e.g.and the myriad of other items that were once made of wood, boats, timber for houses, I could go on but thankfully won't. It may be an idea to read up on woodland management moonmaiden that would( nearly did it again) answer your questions more fully

[Greybeard]

Originally Posted by tree lover

I couldn't agree more! Sheffield Council think manage and destroy are the same thing. This is happening all over the city and our councillors don't care, not even those from the Green Party. Could the fact that they have wood-burning heating schemes that need feeding have anything to do with it?

I think you ought to do a little research into the subject before spouting about it.

A couple of books available from Sheffield Libraries could help, - both by Melvyn Jones: Sheffield's Woodland Heritage and Sheffield's Historic Woodlands.

[Dozy]

Of course you have to manage woodland. Trees can grow on their own - just as they can become unsafe all on their own.

I walk my dog in a small piece of ancient woodland every day and I would prefer not to be hit on the head by a falling branch. Or by a tree falling on me.

This wood was thinned out a couple of years ago - you could see from the stumps that the trees were starting to rot inside. They felled the trees, chipped the branches onto the woodland floor and left the main trunk of the tree to rot, providing a habitat for the sort of woodland beasties I prefer not to investigate too closely!

Several trees also had branches lopped off, presumably because they were unsafe.

Management also includes ridding the wood of the dreaded Japanese Knotweed and cutting back the brambles so they don't cover the pathway.

Despite this appalling action on the part of the Council, we've still got a beautiful wood, full of bluebells, with oaks, beeches, holly, elderberries, and any number of other trees.

When I look at it out of my parlour window in the summer, all I can see is green leaves - despite the number of trees that as chopped down.

If you want to know more about "my" wood, have a look here.

[beckelina]

Dozy, you may be interested to know that that heplful little leaflet you have linked to was produced thanks to the Heritage Lottery Grant the OP was complaining about 5 years ago!
May I remind the naysayers not all woodland management is about cutting down trees - it is also about education and information for the people who value and love our woodlands. Hurrah!