Similar SW LBAPs
Regional Plan
UK National Plan
Upland Oakwoods |
Extent/Distribution1
The
steep-sided combes and coastal slopes of Exmoor still support large expanses
of ancient woodland. These are largely of the upland oak woodland type,
which on Exmoor is easily defined by the predominance in the canopy of
sessile oak. Other trees and shrubs are much scarcer, though downy birth
is usually present, and holly, rowan and hazel tend to be present in the
understorey. In NVC terms, this is defined as the W17
sessile oak – downy birth – Dicranum majus moss community.
In addition, richer soils on flatter ground and in the valley bottoms
and around spring lines support woodland in which pedunculate oak and
ash may be locally dominant. Though much smaller in area, these communities
form an important part of the upland oak wood complex and are particularly
important for the communities of rare lichens they support.
Some of Exmoor’s upland oakwoods contain areas of wood pasture
with numerous ancient pollards. The management issues in such areas
are rather different to those pertaining to the woodlands proper and
they are dealt with under the “parklands, wood pastures and veteran
trees” HAP.
There are 2209 ha of upland oak woodland recorded on Exmoor.
This is 30% less than occurred a century ago, with
the major reason for loss being felling and subsequent replanting with
conifers. Smaller areas of oak woodland have been grubbed out and converted
to pasture land.
Key sites:
Horner
Barle Valley
Watersmeet
Woody Bay
Hawkcombe
Culbone
Haddeo
Threats1
- Overgrazing by deer, and more locally sheep, resulting in an impoverished
ground flora and no regeneration of trees.
- Invasion by the non-native species rhododendron, beech, sycamore
and cherry laurel.
- Intensive pheasant rearing has a detrimental effect in some upland
oak woods.
- Neglect of coppiced oak woods, resulting in dense stands of even-aged
old coppice which are sub-optimal for wildlife.
- There is s chronic shortage of dead wood in many of Exmoor’s
upland oak woods.
- Re-stocking of upland oak woods with trees of inappropriate provenance.
- Over management of upland oak woods involving the removal of older
trees and of those hosting important lichen communities.
- There are very limited marketing opportunities for oak timber in
Britain, which means most upland oak woods have not been managed for
many years.
- Agricultural subsidies are currently much more attractive to landowners
than grants for new woodland planting. Existing planting schemes such
as the New Native Woodland in National Parks Challenge fund are inadequate
to meet BAP targets for
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Policy and legislation1
no information currently available
Management1
no information currently available
Research and monitoring1
no information currently available
Education and awareness raising1
no information currently available
Progress
no information currently available
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