INTRODUCTION
Management work at Gibbing Greave and Herringthorpe Woods is undertaken by, or on behalf of, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council who own the site.

A management plan for the site was prepared in 1996 and this will be updated as necessary in order to realise the full potential of the woods.

A major aim in both areas of woodland is to enhance their ancient semi-natural character.

The plantation areas, which have been unmanaged for several decades, are currently in a very poor condition and in these areas, measures will be taken to extend the life-span and improve the quality of the better formed existing trees, such as mature Oaks and Sweet Chestnuts; as well as to encourage the growth of replacements and the recovery of the ground flora and shrub layers. This will be done by the selective thinning and group felling of Beech and Sweet Chestnut. The aim of this work is to encourage the development of a woodland with trees of a variety of ages and sizes and a mix of species, especially of native trees such as Oak, Rowan, Birch, Holly, Hawthorn and Hazel.

An area of Beech plantation in Gibbing Greave clearly showing the extent of bare ground

Natural regeneration will be the main method of providing new trees. Planting, for example of Hazel, Hawthorn and Holly, will only be considered if natural regeneration fails to appear after the opening up of the tree canopy.

Outside the plantation areas, work will be directed at maintaining and strengthening the character of the more semi-natural parts of the site. Some thinning and group-felling will be carried out in order to extend the life of the best formed trees, in particular, of Oak, Beech and Ash, and to promote regeneration of young trees. The non-native species, Sycamore will be particularly favoured for removal.

Although Gibbing Greave and probably Herringthorpe Wood were once managed as coppice woodland, there is no surviving coppice within the woodlands today. Reintroduction of coppicing would be unrealistic because of the present woodland structure and the relative absence of typically coppiced shrubs such as Hazel.

The area of Alder carr in the north of Herringthorpe Wood will be left to develop naturally. Sycamores around the edge of this area will be thinned, and the highly invasive species, Japanese Knotweed, will be controlled. Trees of Hybrid Black Poplar growing along streams will be removed as they become dangerous and replaced by native species such as Ash, Alder, Willow and Hazel.

Large, mature and over mature trees are rare on the site, and those that exist are concentrated in the northern part of Gibbing Greave. All trees of this kind will be retained, and away from paths, allowed to die, collapse and decay naturally. The same applies to fallen dead wood which is extremely scarce on the site. Both standing and fallen deadwood are of value as a habitat for fungi, invertebrates, hole-nesting birds and bats.

Trees close to paths and access points will be inspected annually for signs of damage and disease and safety measures required will be taken.

NON-WOODED AREAS
The glade within Gibbing Greave is one of the most important wildlife areas in the woodlands and, in the short-term at least, will be allowed to develop naturally. A photographic record will be kept to monitor any changes in the vegetation.

The small marshy area dominated by Reed Sweet-grass on the edge of the Alder carr is fringed by mown grassland. The area will be encouraged to expand by not cutting the grass immediately around it. In addition, the invasive non-native species, Japanese Knotweed will be controlled.

BIODIVERSITY
Both woods will be managed to conserve and enhance their natural history and to maintain or increase their populations of key plants and animals. To achieve this, the semi-natural characteristics of the vegetation will be promoted.

Although some surveys of the wildlife interest of the woodlands have already been undertaken, further surveys are required to increase knowledge of the species present and to assist in the development of future management plans. Surveys to monitor ecological change are also required, in particular photographic monitoring of and invertebrate surveys in the glade in Gibbing Greave.

ACCESS AND RECREATION
Both woods will be managed in order to provide safe and appropriate public access and recreation. Formal access points and paths will be maintained and the use of other access points and paths will be discouraged.

New boundary hedgerows will be planted and existing neglected hedgerows rejuvenated. Hopefully these renewed boundaries will help to deter motorcyclists, mountain bikes, horse riders and those responsible for fly tipping and the abandonment of burnt out cars on the site. It is also hoped that anti-social activities such as glue sniffing, shooting of wildlife and general vandalism will be reduced. Litter will be removed from the site on a regular basis.

Access to the woods will be improved by upgrading the path system. A particular focus of access work will be to provide access for less able-bodied persons where this is practical. Steps are required in several places where soil erosion has occurred and paths will be waymarked where appropriate. Maintenance work will continue to take place on paths, bridges and the wooden boardwalk through the area of Alder carr. Until recently, the two woods had few formal access points but now most formal access points into have been provided with gates and stiles.

Interpretative signs will be installed and further sculptures and pieces of environmental art will be developed similar to those already on the site.

The local community will be encouraged to become involved in the care and management of the site. Management works carried out in the woodlands will be notified to and discussed with the local community.

The potential of the site as an educational and environmental arts resource is being developed through guided walks, events relating to the natural history and historic interest of the site, children's events and practical management tasks.