Welsh Government Rural Communities Rural Development Programme for Wales 2014-2020

Glastir Woodland Restoration Forest Management Plan How to Complete Guidance Welsh Government Rural Communities Rural Development Programme for Wales 2014-2020 Back to Index 1

Version 2 - October 2015 Crown Copyright 2015 ISBN 978-1-4734-4252-8 Back to Index 2

Glastir Woodland Restoration Forest Management Plan How to Complete Guide Important Notice: These instructions will give you step-by-step guidance on how to complete your Glastir Woodland Restoration Forest Management Plan. The Welsh Government produces this Guide in Welsh and English as required under the Welsh Government Welsh Language Scheme. Should you require a copy of this guide in Welsh, you can access it from www.wales.gov.uk/rpwonline by selecting the language switcher at the top of the page and re-opening the document. If you are encountering problems or are unable to access our website, please contact the RPW Online Helpdesk on 0300 062 5004 or email RPWOnline@Wales.gsi.gov.uk Please complete and submit your Forest Management Plan by the date specified in the selection letter. Back to Index 3

Content: Page: INTRODUCTION - Getting Started 5 SECTION 1 - Property Details 6 SECTION 2 - Vision and Objectives 7 SECTION 3 - Woodland Survey (Landscape) 7 3 Woodland Survey and Design 7 3.2 Information 8 SECTION 4 - Woodland Structure and Diversity 10 4.1 Forest Structure 10 SECTION 5 - Livestock, Water and Soil 11 5.0 Deer 11 5.1 Livestock and Other Mammals 11 5.2 Water and Soil 12 SECTION 6 - Capital Works 13 SECTION 7 Additional Information 14 Back to Index 4

INTRODUCTION - Getting Started Once the Expression of Interest (EOI) has been processed and selected, a letter confirming selection will be sent to the customer, along with a blank Forest Management Plan and GeoPDF. These items will be sent online via the customer s RPW Online account, which will be accessible by the customer or their agent. Using information contained within the GeoPDF, the scheme rules and following a site survey, the customer or agent will need to annotate the GeoPDF and complete the Forest Management Plan, using the following guidance. The Forest Management Plan is a Microsoft Excel based document. It has eight separate tabs along the bottom of the document representing the different sections to be completed. All sections must be completed to support the capital works that are in the Forest Management Plan and to demonstrate their eligibility for inclusion in a Glastir Contract. Back to Index 5

SECTION 1 - Property Details Enter the customer / tenant or managers name and contact details Please select Owner, Tenant, Manager or Agent Enter the agent s details, if you are using one. Use the drop down menu and select: Yes or No Please number any paper maps or accompanying documentation, ensuring the CRN, Scheme Reference Number and Glastir Woodland Restoration are included on each item. The map should be provided on the GeoPDF supplied by the Welsh Government to the customer. Documents can be scanned and attached to a message in your RPW Online account. If the customer does not have management control, then they are not eligible for Glastir Woodland Restoration. Back to Index 6

SECTION 2 - Vision Briefly outline the long term vision for the area to be restocked, e.g. A mixed woodland will be established on the site which will be managed to protect wildlife, improve water quality and deliver high quality timber. SECTION 3 - Woodland Survey and Design Give a brief description of the site and any of the issues present in or adjacent to the restock area and how they have been addressed. For example, Coed Uchaf was felled in November 2014. The area felled was 3.2 ha and 0.2 ha of non larch species remain standing. There is a Historic Environment Feature (HEF) on the edge of compartment1a which consists of a ruined house. The area of the house site and a 5 metre buffer will be left unplanted. Coed Uchaf is part of a large Forest which is known for its Red Squirrel population. Further information on specific feature must be provided in 3.2. Back to Index 7

SECTION 3.2 Information Use the drop down menu for each topic to indicate if features are present. To activate the drop down menu, left click on the box. Add the sheet and field number of where the feature is located. Provide information on consultations and what actions have been taken. For instance, state who you have consulted with and where appropriate provide their reference number. You must state what actions are being undertaken to protect the feature or why no action is required. Add additional features if you discover there are more than one. Please state, if the area to be planted includes part or all of the feature or associated buffer. To activate the drop down menu, left click on the box. Where applicable, state the feature name and provide the reference number for the feature Add any European Protected Species and whether they are known to be present, use the National Biodiversity Network website to research this. If a European Protected Species licence is required please explain why and when it was applied for. Provide the Welsh Government with the relevant documents, using RPW Online. Clearly mark any paperwork you provide as evidence with the CRN, SRN and Glastir Woodland Restoration. Back to Index 8

SECTION 3.2 - Information Cont Follow the same procedure as above for the rest of the topics Biodiversity Priority Species, Historic Environment, Landscape, People, Water and Other, where there is the relevant feature present. Provide evidence of your consultation if there is a feature present and how the responses have been incorporated into the restocking plan. Back to Index 9

SECTION 4.0 - Woodland Structure and Diversity Please indicate if the site or part of the site is in the Primary Core or Primary Network objective layers on the GeoPDF. Use the drop down menu to answer Yes or No. If part of the site is in these layers then a woodland survey may be necessary to ensure that the restock plan takes account of the location of the remnant native trees and flora.you should ensure that the most botanically diverse areas of the site are restocked with native broadleaved trees. A min of 80% of these areas must be restocked with native broadleaved trees and shrubs. Please indicate if the site or part of the site is a Plantation on an Ancient Woodland Site but outside the Primary Core or Primary Network objective layers on the GeoPDF. Use the drop down menu to indicate Yes or No. You must plant a minimum of 50% of this area with native trees and shrubs. Use this box to explain how the requirements for Primary Core, Primary Network and Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) have been addressed. Back to Index 10

SECTION 5.0 Deer Please indicate if there are deer on the site or nearby. If the capital work for a high seat is being used, then it will need to indicate the extent of the threat to the trees. Use local knowledge to assess the need for deer control. SECTION 5.1 - Livestock and Other Mammals If Capital Works items have been included e.g. fencing and/or gates then justification for their need must be included here. Indicate what livestock are a threat to the trees and how it will be resolved. Back to Index 11

SECTION 5.2 - Water and Soil In order to be UKFS compliant, it is necessary to show how your plan has addressed any soil or water issues. For instance, is the site in an acid sensitive catchments, will the planting be occurring on deep peat, are there potential flooding issues etc. Back to Index 12

SECTION 6.0 - Capital Works Present the capital works program here, using the same reference numbers as used on your accompanying map. Applicants need to provide the sheet reference and field number, the type of capital works to be undertaken from the drop down box and the amount / quantity of the capital works being undertaken. To activate the drop down menu, left click on the box. Example entry Back to Index 13

SECTION 7.0 Additional Information Use this area to add any additional information or evidence. Back to Index 14