The overall initial
impression of the site is dependent on whether you are in the
northern or southern areas of the site. In the north section the impression is of the
river flowing through grassland surrounded by mature woodland (even though some
of the woodland is not within the park boundary), which is aesthetically pleasing. The
southern half of the park is level grassland with scattered clumps of trees and steep
wooded slopes leading down to the River Maun. Management should therefore aim to
maintain this overall balance.
The woodland areas
should be managed to maintain and enhance the habitats.
There is at present
no formal public access to the steep slopes of the Maun
woodland in the southern half of the site. This should be maintained and the area
allowed to remain peaceful and undisturbed as a refuge for wildlife. Log piles could
be developed in quiet discrete areas of the woodland to increase dead wood on the
site.
The woodland areas
should be allowed to regenerate naturally. Checks should be
made on an annual basis to check for any self- seeded non-native species for
example Sycamore. If any are found they should be removed.
The site should be
surveyed for the presence of Japanese Knotweed. This nonnative
species is particularly invasive and should be removed from the site.
The woodland areas
are suffering from some Sycamore invasion. Sycamore
seedlings, saplings and small trees should therefore be removed. On a gradual
scale, mature Sycamore trees should be felled or ring-barked to allow regeneration
of native species. This should be done slowly (1-2 mature trees per annum)
to
ensure that the area retains its mature woodland character. Woodland management
work can be used to increase public awareness regarding biodiversity (please refer
to Objective 3). Dead wood is at a premium on the site and should be allowed to
remain on site as standing trees, stumps or in log piles to increase habitat for
invertebrates.
Work to manage and
enhance the canopy composition of all the woodland areas will
directly influence the understorey and benefit ground-cover species. This is
particularly important for the ‘clumps’ of trees planted within the amenity grass area
in the southern half of the park.
Due to the public access
to the park in general however, any dangerous trees should
be made safe.
Nest boxes and bat
boxes could be installed to potentially increase the numbers of
suitable breeding and roosting sites.
The grassland areas
in the currently managed in two separate ways. In the southern
zone of the park the grassland are mainly managed as amenity grassland. Due to
the high levels of recreational use in this section of the parkthis management activity
will have to continue. There are some areas close to the woodland where a
permanent area of long grass would create a buffer strip between the amenity grass
and the wood. In the northern zone of the park there are zones of permanent long
grass and amenity mown grass. It is proposed that this regime be continued, to
maintain the differing sward heights. New areas of permanent long grass should be
allowed to develop to act as a buffer strips between the amenity grassland and the
woodland areas and some long grass 'islands' would create interest and increased
wildlife habitat. Please refer to map 4 (page 22) .
The scrubland areas
should be allowed to develop and thicken, to produce a range of
canopy heights, thereby producing shelter for a range of animals and bird species.
The willow scrub should
be allowed to develop, and then managed in a traditional
way, through coppicing on a 12 year rotation. This will introduce traditional
management techniques and will benefit wildlife.
The river banks should
be managed to benefit Water Voles. Vegetation should be left
mainly uncut to provide food, shelter and nesting sites. Short sections of bank should
be cut each year on a rotational basis, as this encourages young vigorous shoots.
Any bank work that it necessary should be undertaken during November to February
when Water Voles are not in breeding season.
Map 4. Grass mowing
regime in the northern zone of the park.
Ideally to increase
the amount of bankside habitat it may be possible, due to the large
areas of Maun Valley Park, to introduce new ditches and backwaters leading from the
river. These ditches could end in a series of scrapes providing a new habitat of
standing water on the site. Public access could still be facilitated by low key bridges
placed over the ditches, or by paths leading round the scrapes. A boardwalk area
could be introduced through the marsh/scrape area.
This could be developed
to include interpretation and information.
On a more practical
level, the introduction of a scrape would benefit water voles and
amphibians. The scrape should be positioned in the scrub and permanent long grass
in the northern zone of the park close to the river.
