Forestry & Tree Service

Good Woods

The forestry & tree team works to care for the woodlands and trees in the living landscape of the Peak District National Park.

The National Park Authority purchased its first woodland in 1957 and now manages over 150 woodlands, covering 1300 acres throughout the Park. The main reason for owning these woodlands is their importance in the landscape. Many are dramatic features on hill tops, or alongside busy roads.

The woodlands are also valuable for wildlife and their record of human usage in archaeological remains. Wherever possible we allow public access to our woodlands. There is open access to 13 woodlands with a total area of 120.8 ha or 23% of the total area. Footpaths pass through 28 of the woodlands. A further eight woods adjoin roadside lay-bys or car parks. In these ways, about half of the total woodland area is accessible to the public. Most of the other woods tend to be small and isolated, and so are unsuitable for public access or there may be no legal right of way over neighbouring land.

As well as managing existing woodlands, the forestry & tree team has planted 49 new blocks of woodland including 13 former tip sites and quarries.

How we manage our woodlands

Different parts of the National Park have their own characteristic tree-scapes. The White Peak is a high limestone plateau where small woods of tall trees provide a striking contrast to rolling green fields. The main trees are ash, sycamore and beech which tolerate the limestone soils and the harsh winter climate. Elm used to an important feature of these woodlands but was greatly reduced by the ravages of Dutch elm disease.

Woodlands on the Dark Peak area of the Park are on soils derived from gritstone rocks where a wider range of trees will grow, including oak. Conifers also flourish away from the limestone soils.

Each woodland is managed according to its own need, taking into account all of the different factors that affect it. A general aim is to grow trees on to a ripe old age. Where it is safe, some trees will be allowed to grow on for their natural lives and then rot down for the benefit of wildlife. We are gradually replacing conifers in our woods with broadleaved trees, except where the conifers have value for certain species of wildlife.

Timber production is not the main purpose of management, but timber sold to local crafts workers and timber merchants creates a useful income to help offset the costs of managing the woodlands. Our main source of income comes from grants from the Forestry Commission which are obtained for work which improves the environmental and recreational benefits of the woodlands.

In woods that have been planted by man we may fell small groups of mature trees to allow young trees to be planted. This ensures the future of the woodland with all its many benefits. In larger woods the number of trees that can be felled and replanted can be increased without spoiling the landscape.

As well as such plantations, the National Park Authority owns woodlands that are the relicts of the natural tree cover that would have covered most of the landscape. Here the main aim is to conserve the natural quality of the woodland and the trees are left to regenerate naturally from seed rather than by planting.

Managing for the future

The forestry & tree team aims to react to changing needs in the National Park. We are working to develop woods that are close to villages to benefit local people. This can be by arranging access, selling produce such as firewood, or encouraging local schools to use the wood as an outdoor classroom. We now have a community woodlands officer to help us with this work.

We aim to own only those woodlands that are in need of the special protection that we can offer. We have sold some woodlands to other owners where we can be confident that they will continue to manage them in an environmentally sensitive way. The money we receive is then used to purchase other woodlands that are in need of rescue or renovation. We are also very grateful for gifts of money to help us purchase new woods, or for the donation of woodlands for us to look after.

  
This road-side woodland was rescued.

 
The site was rabbit fenced, planted and the walls rebuilt.

Tree care

Through our tree service we care for single trees, or groups of trees that are important for landscape and amenity. We can protect trees from felling or pruning by applying a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Unauthorised work on a tree protected by a TPO can result in a substantial fine. To encourage positive action we pay grants to help people look after protected trees and are always happy to give advice.

Trees in villages designated as conservation areas are also legally protected. Here an owner must give six weeks notice of any intended felling or pruning of any tree whose trunk is more than 3 inches in diameter at chest height. This gives us a chance to discuss the proposed work and assess the impact on the village landscape. We can offer grants to encourage positive works to improve the tree or extend its safe life.

Staff and Contact Numbers

For enquiries about woodlands that the National Park Authority own please contact Steve. If you want to find out about TPOs, trees in conservation areas or general tree enquires please contact Dave.

Steve Tompkins
Forestry & Tree Manager
01629 816346 with voicemail
email: Steve.Tompkins@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Dave Goodwin
Tree Conservation Officer
01629 816308 with voicemail
email: Dave.Goodwin@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Emma Mortimer
Community Woodlands Officer
01629 816248 with voicemail
email: Emma.Mortimer@peakdistrict.gov.uk