Copse, trees and hedges
Although this woodland shows some of the characteristics of old woodlands with coppiced hazels and bluebells it seems likely that all this land was once cleared with a possible house on the island. Some of the trees may be up to 200 years old (Guides survey) and may have been planted; the hazel has certainly been coppiced in the past as some of the stools are quite large. However, many of the trees are probably self-seeded; we get plenty of saplings today, particularly of ash, which show the process of woodland regeneration in action.
Probably the most interesting hedge is the new one planted in 2001 on the western side of the first field crossing the small stream valley above the moat. This hedge has ten native shrubs characteristic of the hedges in the local area and has a number of trees including a black poplar, wild service, black pear and oak. It grew extremely well and was laid in 2012. Such mixed hedges have great wildlife value providing shelter and food for insects, birds and mammals.
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The wooded areas on the moat island and between the moat and stream (which we call the Copse) have a variety of trees including oak, ash, field maple, lime, sycamore, beech, hawthorn and yew. There are large hazel stools on the island and along the stream bank and some much younger ones in the copse. We plan to coppice (cut down to ground level) these hazels on an eight to ten year cycle although on the island the timing is determined partly by when we build the 'bridge' across to clear the bramble and scrub which is every three to four years . Coppicing the hazel, clearing bramble and removing a few of the scraggy hawthorns allows light in so that the ground flora can flourish. Primroses and bluebells make a wonderful show in the Spring along with the red campion in the copse. There are some very large ash trees elsewhere on the site - one of the largest being by the picnic tables. A number of old varieties of Worcestershire fruit trees were planted in 2000. These are mostly to be found near the Millennium Seat at the northern end of the second field and include pears, apples and plums.
Probably the most interesting hedge is the new one planted in 2001 on the western side of the first field crossing the small stream valley above the moat. This hedge has ten native shrubs characteristic of the hedges in the local area and has a number of trees including a black poplar, wild service, black pear and oak. It grew extremely well and was laid in 2012. Such mixed hedges have great wildlife value providing shelter and food for insects, birds and mammals. |
The oldest hedge is likely to be the one between the road and the moat with a variety of shrub species. The hedgeline between the two fields dates from Inclosure times or earlier. The part near the picnic tables was cut down and replanted and has more recently been laid and new whips planted in the gaps. The upper part of the hedgerow is now a line of mainly hawthorn trees. Some of these have come down in gales in the last few years and it is undergoing some management but the plan is to keep some of the trees and to pollard others to encourage them to regrow. |
We regularly cut back scrub to prevent it growing out into the grassland and have carried out a programme of scrub clearence under the guidance of Natural England to improve the wildflower grassland. However some scrub is maintained for its wildlife value.