Introduction to Ancient Woodland Management

This course is designed for landowners, land managers, and communities (ages 18+) to understand what makes ancient woodlands irreplaceable, the threats ancient woods and trees face today and how to manage them appropriately.

The topics covered on this course include:

• What is ancient woodland and its history?
• Threats ancient woods and trees face today.
• Outdoor session showing and discussing the features, threats, and management of the ancient woodland at Nower Wood.
• How to manage ancient woodland against threats and protect its features, including (but not limited to) thinning plantations on ancient woodland, controlling invasive species (such as, rhododendron) and recovery of the wider ecosystem through herbivore management, halo-releasing ancient and veteran trees and managing habitat mosaics throughout the woodland and beyond.
• Briefly covering the requirements, regulations, and support for producing a woodland management plan, obtaining a felling licence, and seeking funding opportunities for delivering management works.

Please note, there is no practical or hands-on management training on this course. The information shared follows the guidance produced by the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Woodland Restoration Modules: .

Tutor Profile; Rhiannon Hoy

Rhiannon has worked as an Outreach Adviser for the Woodland Trust for 4 years, advising and supporting private landowners across the South East of England in restoring ancient woodlands, managing ancient and veteran trees, and integrating trees into farm systems. She is also on the Board of Trustees for the Ancient Tree Forum, an organisation dedicated to the conservation of the UK’s ancient and veteran trees, and is a Panel Member on the Forestry Commission’s Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committee, championing forestry and providing advice on the government’s woodland policy across the region.

Important information:

The course will be held at Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, with indoor sessions hosted in the education centre building and an outdoor walk and talk session in the woodland surrounding it (Nower Wood). The site has a carpark at the address below with disability access signposted on entry.

Address:

Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve

Mill Way

Leatherhead

KT22 8QA

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The course will start at 10am and finish at 3pm. Refreshments will be provided, but please bring your own packed lunch. Please note, the centre is a nut-free space and any products containing nuts must not be brought into the building to protect those with allergies.

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Host or Publisher Surrey Wildlife Trust