Design Concept Lower Slopes Upper Slope and Hill Top · PDF fileUpper Slope and Hill Top. ......

Design ConceptN

This map draws together all the survey information illustrated in the previous maps and tries to zone the plan area into similar

character areas with similar attributes, aims and objectives.

Over the next two maps each zone is described in more detail

along with proposed actions over the next plan period.

This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.

Forestry Commission 10002548.2009

Scale: 1:12500

Forest Design PlanLowther Park

North West England

Design ConceptLower SlopesUpper Slope and Hill Top

N Design ConceptLower Slopes



Scale: 1:12500

Description:This zone is the most recreated with

people visiting or passing through fromall of the entrance points to the forest.This zone is the most sheltered and

offers the greatest opportunity to diversify the forest species and

maintain stable woodland habitatsthrough continuous cover

management.

Aims.Continue to establish areas of

native woodland in Lowther Park.

Continue to develop the area undercontinuous cover through regular thinning, releasing regeneration

and underplanting.

Work with the Environment Agency to ensure the productivity of Kirk

Beck for spawning fish.

Ensure the safety and usability of all well used paths and rights of way.


North West England

Felling and subsequent native broadleaf replanting dependant on securing suitable access for timber haulage.

Steep Gulley would benefit from being developed as open space and native broadleaves to maintain views from the Coast to Coast route.

Regular thinning of the lower slopes is critical in ensuring successful transformation to continuous cover management.

Controlling sitka spruce regeneration will be an ongoing maintenance task to ensure that the areas of new native woodland are established.

N Design ConceptUpper Slopes

Description:-This zone includes the most visible forest boundaries and the highest

points in the forest. The zone provides oppor for people to gain

views across the forest and furtherafield. Much of the zone is dominted by Sitka spruce and would benefit from larch and Douglas fir being

introduced where apropriate.

Aims:Prioritise the removal of harsh

boundaries

After felling look to develop open habitats on areas of wet soils

Ensure the establishment of the existing 2006 and 2007 planting.

At restocking introduce non spruce species .

Ensure every opporutnity is taken tocomplete first thinning.

Invesitigate suitability of alternatetimber lorry access to Sillathwaite

Felling of forests on exposed wetsoils needs to be planned to avoid

increased risk of wind blow.



Scale: 1:12500


North West England

The Forestry Commission's land ownership connects with the Cold Fell road here which would appear to be a good place to establish a new access point.

Increasing species diversity and fading the forest edge would help link the forest to the open fell better.

Maintaining open habitats along the Dent ridge is an important feature of this and previous plans. Future grazing may need to be considered to sustainably manage these areas

Where practical ensure plan takes into account management of neighbouring forest

Where practical ensure plan takes into account management of neighbouring forest.

G

This map tries to illustrate the work and actions completed

during the last five years

1:12,500Scale

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her

Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings [Forestry Commission]

[100025498 ] [2009].

Date 23/09/2008

±Contact Gareth Browning017687 76816

North West England

Forest Design PlanFuture Woodland

Management

KeyPlan Area

Future ManagementClearfell between 2007 & 2011Clearfell between 2012 & 2016Clearfell between 2017 & 2021Clearfell between 2022 & 2026Clearfell between 2027 & 2031Clearfell between 2032 & 2036Clearfell between 2037 & 2041Clearfell after 2045Continuous CoverRecently felled not yet restockedForest Roads

G New Timber Transfer Point

Lowther Park

Area of wind blow due to be felled in 2009 extended to remove wind blown harsh boundary

Blue phase felling reduced to increase width of standing timber between two areas of felling

Small clear fell aimed at completing improvements to harsh boundary

Two adjacent clear fells amalgamated to bring forward bog restoration, dealwith increasing windblow and maketimber extraction practical.

Opportuntities will be sought to push back and fade this boundarywhen harvesting other coupes in the forest.

Achieviing harvesting in Sillathwaite is dependant on securing a new timber transfer point with better lorry access to the public road.

This map shows the proposals formanaging the woodland over the

next 30 years. See also the 3dComputer generated perspectives

which try to illustrate this planfrom key view points.

The future felling of this recent restocking will need to be considered at the next review to see how it fits in with surrounding felling and restocking. There is a risk that it maybecome isolated and left unconnected toany surrounding woodland.

This map tries to illustrate the work and actions completed

during the last five years

1:12,500Scale

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her

Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings [Forestry Commission]

[100025498 ] [2009].

Date Spring 2009

±Contact Gareth Browning017687 76816

North West EnglandLowther Park

Forest Design PlanFuture Woodland

Species

KeyPLan Boundary

revised restockingLarchBroadleavesLarch, Douglas fir & SpruceSitka spruceminor roadsForest RoadsRights of WayFuture forest boundary pushed

back from the public road by 50 to 90m

Harsh boundary reduced and open habitats increased.

Mire and boghabitats notreplanted

Increased native woodland on wet soils

Open bog habitatnot replanted

Areas shown as spruce will include upto 30% larch or Douglas fir in mixture where soils are apropriate. Similarlyareas shown as larch will include up to 30% Douglas fir and/or spruce in mixture.

This map illustrates the proposals for the future woodland species &and should be read in conjunction with the 3d Computer perspectives

which try to represent this plan from a number of key viewpoints.

G

G

G

G

G FutureCommunity,

Health & Well Being

N

This map illustrates proposals to deliver benefits to the local

community and vistors wanting to recreate in the forest. This map

replaces the previous plan Recreation Statement

Lowther Park provides opportunitiesfor local informal recreation. With

its extensive network of paths, tracksand forest roads there are numerous

opportuntities for people to enjoy informal activities such as walking .

This plan will see the forest developand improve as areas are clear felled

revealing new views and the percentageof native woodland and open habitats

increased.

This map illustrates how management of the forest over the next 5 years will hopefully encourage more people to

use Lowther Park for informal recreation thus benefitting their health and well being.



Scale: 1:15000


North West England

Improvements to the informal car parking at Wilton Gate will be investigated

Native woodland and open habitat development should improve this area for wildlife such as birds which visitors enjoy.

Establishment of native woodlandafter felling will improve the look and feel of this entrance. Also new views across the open fell will open up.

Finding an alternate access for timber lorries will reduce conflict with neighbours along shared track.

A review of the Enduro Bike route will aim to ensure a balance between providing alternate recreation activities and the use of the forest for informal quiet recreation.

Ensuring that the spruce dominated forest is regularly thinned will improve visitors experience.

N Future Conservation &

HeritageThis map illustrates proposals to deliver

conservation management to benefit flora, fauna and heritage features of

the forest This map replaces the previous plan Archeology and

Conservation Statements

Lowther Park is home to a small range of wildllife which although mostly

common are still of value for their own sake and as they bring enjoyment to

people who recreate in the area.

This plan proposes a continuing increase in native woodland and open habitats which should both ensure increasing

opportuntities for existing and new fauna and flora.

The proposals to extend the area of Continuous Cover, increasing use of

species mixtures & thinning of the spruce dominated forest will also bring benefits

to nature conservation.



Scale: 1:15000


North West England

Native woodland and open habitats should be established in this area following completion of felling in early 2009.

Native woodland established in this area over the next 5 years

The protection of water quality for spawning fish and down stream benefits will be a priority in all operations.

Sites of value to wildlife such as Badger setts and Birds of Prey nests will be protected during operations.

The development of large seeding conifers within the area of continuous cover will benefit Red Squirrels.

Future Open Habitats

Future Native Woodland

Future Continuous Cover

This map attempts to illustrate how future management of the forest is taking into account understanding of how climate change may impact UK Forests (see FC Bulletin 125)

and trying to reduce activities which contribute to climate change

Planning for Climate Change

N



Scale: 1:15000


North West England

Reduced carbon dioxide emissions by minimising travel to worksites by using local contractors where possible.

Protect against predicted improved climate for the development of forest pests and diseases by including up to 30% secoundary species in all planting, eg spruce or pine in larch and pine or larch in spruce.

Work with the local community to offer timber for woodfuel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Species choice is based on Ecological SiteClassification to ensure species are suitedto the site and thus likley to be able toadapt to future changes in climate.

Increasing riparian woodland will help protect soils and watercourses against thethreat of soil erosion frompredicted future increasein quantity and intensity of rainfall

Increasing area of Continuous Cover management should reduce inputs such as ground preperation which should reduce carbon release..

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