Trees: woodland management plans

Our woodland management service

Thomson Ecology arboricultural consultants produce management plans and maps for woodlands on any scale to fulfil a range of objectives. We programme felling and thinning, coppicing and invasive weed clearance regimes; design access improvement, wildlife habitat creation schemes and invasive weed clearance.

Why do woodlands need management plans?

Woodland Management Plans usually cover a five-year period, but also set out the long-term vision for the wood. Having a management plan allows woodland owners to determine the effects of current and past management on aspects of the woodland, and to assess what works and what doesn’t.

Mapping

Good woodland management plans should be supported by maps that clearly illustrate the features and compartments of the woodland, the objectives for each compartment and the activities that will be carried out. Detailed and accurate maps are also a pre-requisite for many woodland grant applications. Thomson Ecology has a dedicated GIS team that can integrate GPS data and existing maps to generate detailed maps to meet your requirements.

Woodland grants

Various grants are available from governments and agencies to manage woodland. The grants available from the Forestry Commission under the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) require the submission of a woodland management plan that meets the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) benchmark standard. We can help you to draw up a plan that will satisfy EWGS requirements.

We can also advise you about grants, help you to apply for them and liaise with the relevant authorities and agencies where necessary. In some instances, it may be possible to obtain a grant under the EWGS to draw up a woodland management plan.

Works and implementation

As well as planning and advising, we carry out the practical implementation of works: tree felling, thinning and coppicing, invasive weed clearance and wildlife habitat creation.

Contact our arboricultural team if you need advice on managing your woodland.