LEES HALL WOOD - MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION
Under the Fuelling a Revolution programme, woodland restoration and access improvement work is taking place to restore this and the other woodlands in the Gleadless Valley to their former glory and to maximise their potential as a recreational and educational resource.

Management work in the woodlands and other green spaces is undertaken by or on behalf of their owners, Sheffield City Council who work in close partnership with others with an interest in the area, in particular the Gleadless Valley Wildlife Trust.

More general information on the management of the woodlands and other habitats and on access improvements is given elsewhere on this website.

 

Most woodland management work is best carried out during the winter when trees and other plants are not growing.

TREES AND WOODLANDS
As part of the Fuelling a Revolution programme, semi-natural parts of the Gleadless Valley woodlands are being protected and enhanced to ensure that they continue to be species rich habitats with a diverse structure. Particular attention is being paid to 'stream corridors', strips of land up to 30 metres on either side of streams.

Plantations and mixed areas within the woodlands are being managed to encourage their development into healthy and diverse woodland areas. The long term aim for these areas is for at least 60% of their trees to be of native species such as Oak. To achieve this, the spread of Beech and Sycamore saplings is being controlled, selected areas of non-native trees are being felled, and natural regeneration of native tree species is being encouraged, along with the recovery of currently impoverished areas of ground flora. Some thinning and group felling is being carried out in Lees Hall Wood in order to create a more varied woodland structure and to encourage the regeneration of native trees such as Oak, Ash and Hazel. Sycamore, a non-native and highly invasive species, will be particularly favoured for removal.

In the course of all this woodland management work, over-mature trees and standing dead timber will be retained whenever possible. This will help to maintain the presence of all stages in the life cycle of trees, including over-mature trees, standing dead timber and fallen wood, all of which form important habitats for a wide variety of insects, birds and animals.

To further increase habitat diversity, some existing and new open areas will be maintained as permanent glades and rides. In these areas and on woodland edges, a variety of habitat types will be encouraged and maintained, for example by the use of coppicing.

Where possible, income will be created from the sale of produce from woodland management operations. However, this will always be secondary to the interests of wildlife, archaeology, access and recreation.

BIODIVERSITY
The woodlands and open spaces of the Gleadless Valley are home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including a number that are relatively scarce or with declining populations. Because of both this and the areas's heritage and recreational value, a large part of the area is being designated as a Local Nature Reserve, management of which will seek to protect and encourage its scarce species and habitats and encourage a rich diversity of plants and animals. Surveys will be undertaken to monitor both the habitats and populations of selected plant and animal species and to check that management objectives are being achieved.

In Lees Hall Wood, Himalayan Balsam, a non-native and highly invasive species particularly associated with streamsides, is being controlled to reduce its impact on other flora and fauna.

HISTORY AND HERITAGE
Recent surveys, including one carried out under the Fuelling a Revolution programme, have found a wide range of archaeological features in the seven Heritage Woodlands and other areas of 'relic' landscape.

These archaeological features will now be protected, maintained and, where appropriate, renovated and improved.

ACCESS AND RECREATION
Lying close to large areas of population, the woodlands and other green spaces of the Gleadless Valley have a vital recreational role. An important part of their management is to promote their sustainable use for recreation and leisure, particularly by the local community.

Access to Lees Hall Wood is being improved by upgrading the path system, with particular focus of this being to provide access for less able-bodied people. Work is also required to prevent access by motorcyclists and to reduce problems of fly tipping and vandalism.

The local community will continue to be consulted about the management of the woodlands and other green spaces as well as being actively encouraged to play a practical part in this. As part of the Fuelling a Revolution and Local Nature Reserve programmes, events relating to the wildlife and heritage interest and leisure uses of the sites are being held and educational use of the woodlands and open spaces is being continued and promoted.

More general information on the management of the woodlands and other habitats and on access improvements is given elsewhere on this website.