A frost-covered tree against a blue sky.
©️ Mark Hamblin

Winter woodland management

Winter, for many, is a season of preparation for the year ahead, of drawing inward. Outside, the earth draws inward too, bedding down to preserve its energy for the warmer days. It may come as no surprise, then, that carrying out woodland management in the coldest season, when growth of invasive weeds or shrubs stagnates, can be an awful lot easier than doing so in the summer. 

Woodlands are dynamic ecosystems which historically were naturally managed by large herbivores and rootling animals such as boar, and since humans have replaced these natural processes, we have to actively manage woodland ourselves. The cold, dormant months present unique challenges and opportunities for maintaining the health and productivity of woodland. 

There are so many options with managing woodland, each with different targets – like aiming to: 

  • Enhance overall biodiversity 
  • Focus on a particularly rare habitat or species 
  • Harvest timber, or  
  • Protect and enhance ancient woodland features.  

There will be bespoke approaches for each goal, and it is recommended that you work closely with and seek appropriate advice from professionals with expertise in this area. 

You can request advice for the creation of woodland management plans for your Local Wildlife Site directly through Kent Wildlife Trust – please get in touch with Local Wildlife Site Officer Marie Dipple for further information.  

Broadly speaking, here are some key considerations for management during the winter months. 

 

Tree health and safety 

Winter can be a good time to assess the health of your trees. Trees that have held on to dead leaves may have died, and this will allow you to identify potential candidates for standing dead wood! You can also more easily spot lesions, weeping, or rotting on the bark as an indicator of disease. Pruning and removing dead or damaged branches can improve the overall health of individual trees and reduce the risk of falling limbs during heavy snow or ice storms.  

©️ Mark Hamblin

Wildlife habitat 

Woodlands play a vital role in providing both habitat and foraging opportunities for birds, as well as habitat for hibernating species. Mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as many insect species hibernate in woodlands during the winter months. Consider leaving some larger standing deadwood and brush piles as shelter for wildlife. If you have a water source, ensure it remains unfrozen to provide a vital drinking resource for animals.  

© Vaughn Matthews

Protect young or coppiced trees 

Protective guards should be installed around young, establishing, or coppiced trees to prevent browsing by deer. It is also a good time to remove any old tree guards from trees which no longer need them (are mature enough), or guards which need replacing. Cutting bracken, bramble, or weeds from around the base of newly establishing trees is a good idea in autumn/winter when their growth rate naturally slows.  

Managing woodland for biodiversity is a year-round commitment, and careful planning during the colder months can pay dividends in terms of improving woodland health, enhancing wildlife habitat, and potential income. For further information, please get in touch with us directly at [email protected]  

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Volunteers at Hothfield Heathland in winter with frost on the grass.
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