Management of the site

The woodlands on the hillside, which are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), are managed under the Forestry Commission Woodland Grant Scheme. The Herefordshire Council Countryside Team working in partnership with the Queenswood Coronation Fund undertake appropriate works throughout the year to maintain this important habitat.

The path sides are mown in summer and the grassy glades throughout the arboretum are mown in the Autumn.  Removing the vegetation stops these areas from 'scrubbing up' and becoming woodland again. Mowing also encourages a diverse range of ground flora to grow including various species of orchid. Other regular works that take place each year include track resurfacing, tree planting and aftercare.

Woodland works at Queenswood include coppicing and thinning. 

 

Coppicing

Around 10 acres of woodland below the viewpoint is cut in small areas on a 10 or 20 year rotation. The trees re-grow vigorously from the substantial root system which maybe hundreds of years old. This can considerably extend the life of certain species such as hazel. Coppice with standards is a variation on this method, where a few of the best specimens of tree are left to mature. We believe this is how most of our woodlands would have been managed centuries ago. Locally the cut materials would have been used for hop poles, fences, building and of course firewood. Whilst the bark was stripped and used to produce tannin for the tanning of leather.

The sunny, scrubby and flower rich areas that this creates, provides a very different habitat to the shady high forest and are important for a number of species including warblers, dormice, butterflies and moths.

Thinning

Thinning is the process by which trees are selectively removed from the high forest to give the remaining trees room to grow.  The extra light reaching the forest floor encourages the growth of seedlings and allows the all important shrub layer to develop, this is mostly hazel and holly at Queenswood.

Deadwood

Deadwood is very important in the eco-system of woodlands. It is said that up to half of all the biodiversity in healthy woodland relies on deadwood. Unfortunately middle-aged woodlands do not tend to have much of this resource. For this reason we often leave felled trees to rot on the woodland floor. 

Ring-barking is also employed away from paths, this is practice of killing a standing tree by removing the bark from around the base, creating valuable standing deadwood, much appreciated by invertebrates and birds, such as the three woodpecker species which occur in the park.

Please be aware that during the winter months some heavy machinery may be in operation in the woodlands.  We will tell you about any works we are aware of in the box at the top of this page.  Please also look out for signs and safety warnings during your visit.

At Queenswood pests are controlled as part of good woodland management under the Forestry Commission Woodland Grant Scheme.

Grey squirrels do considerable damage to trees when present in large numbers, attacking them in early summer by gnawing at the main stem and removing bark to reach the sweet, sappy layers immediately beneath the bark.  Squirrels also strip food reserves required by other native animals such as dormice (hazel nuts) and will take the eggs and young of many bird species.

The population is controlled humanely by the Countryside Team who follow best practice guidance from agencies such as the Forestry Commission.  Any work is undertaken in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid busy visitor periods and to have as little impact on the visitors enjoyment of Queenswood as possible.