Thornden Wood, Kent

Woodland is an important and distinctive habitat in both the Kent Downs AONB and the PNR des Caps et Marais d’Opale. Properly managed woodland habitats can be rich in biodiversity. The Landscape and Nature for All project aims to improve the management of cross border woodland heritage. Woodland management in France and England is different yet both produce good biodiversity results. The aim of this project is to compare these different management techniques and to transfer good practice either side of the channel.

The Kent Downs is one of Britain’s most wooded AONBs with over 20% woodland cover. A large amount of woodland is in private ownership and increasing amounts of woodland are being purchased for woodlotting which is raising concerns about appropriate woodland management.

The Nord Pas de Calais Region is one of the least wooded regions in France and woodland is therefore an important habitat for the region. The Parc Naturel Régional CMO holds a significant area of woodland for the region with approximately 15% woodland cover. Most woodland in the PNR is under private ownership with Public Forests accounting for 36%.

The Landscape and Nature for All project is developing cross border exchange visits to explore a variety of themes including woodland ride management, open space management, European protected species, forest archaeology, continuous woodland cover, butterfly management and sylvicultural systems.

With the aim of conserving and enhancing woodland biodiversity LNA partners are carrying out conservation work and offering advice to parishes and private woodland owners in the UK and France about site management for improving biodiversity and conserving landscape character. Other important activities include: access improvement, events on specific woodland management issues for woodland owners and general public, website advice page for private owners about woodland management, clearance, fencing, interpretation panels, analysis of the woodlotting phenomenon (in Kent Downs), to research woodland ownership and identify key sites for management and advice including plantation on ancient woodland sites and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (in Kent Downs).

Some information about woodland habitat

Woodlands are a vital component of the natural beauty of the Kent Downs, providing a green mantle to the upper slopes of the escarpments and valleys. They emphasise the undulating nature of the dip slopes and scarp, and frame the agricultural lower slopes and settlements.

Ancient woodland is irreplaceable and is greatly valued for its landscape and biodiversity importance. Some ancient woodland may represent our only link with the original post glacial ‘wildwood’ and contains many vulnerable animal and plant species. Ancient woodlands can also include physical evidence of former landscape management practices.

Much of the AONB’s woodland landscape was once characterised by blocks (cants) of coppice stools cut on regular cycles. Most animal and plants species of ancient woodlands require coppice management which cyclically opens up the woodland floor to light. Coppice creates mosaics and edges of high canopy with taller and shorter coppice stands, providing a diversity of opportunities for wildlife within the woodland habitat.

Some of the specific flora and fauna species associated with woodland habitats include bluebells, fungi and nightjar.