My woodland consist of approximately 4 acres of mixed broadleaf. It is a small plot in a larger woodland of approx. 140 acres. It stands approximately 150 feet above sea level with an average annual rainfall of 22 inches. I understand it is a replanted ancient woodland – a PAWS site. Soil type yet to be categorized but it sits on limestone – looks like it’s sandy/silty clay. It is well-drained and largely level. At the time of taking ownership, it has not been properly managed for some years and is quite overrun with bramble. I’ll be adding more details as I gather them. This is how it stands at the start of my ownership.

Approximately one third of the wood is a tall, straight sycamore stand of around 40 years old. I have called this compartment 1. There are small quantities of lime, hazel, birch, larch, horse chestnut and two sweet chestnut. I aim to gradually thin the sycamore by approx. 1/3rd and open up small areas to add more diversity of species. About one quarter is open glade in two separate areas – comp. 2a & 2b. Comp. 2a was used to rear game birds and is very shady and lacking undergrowth. It is lightly stocked with sycamore, hawthorn and birch of poor form and my plan is to thin these out to let more light in and restock with mixed coppice species. Comp. 2b is very open, sunny and overgrown with bramble and bracken. There is very little here, just a few small oaks and beech. This will be replanted when the bramble has been cleared and will make a nice area for recreation, maybe a little camping or just sitting with a coffee watching the wildlife. Comp. 3 is the most interesting. It is a mix of species of different ages. The main species and largest numbers identified so far are; sycamore, beech, hazel, ash and oak. The hazel is mostly over-stood coppice. This area has a wilder more natural look about it and contains the remnants of an ancient ditch and bank.