The Woodlands Group

 

Woodlands Group

The group was established by the Parish Council  to promote and improve Cliff Plantation and Stables Woods for community recreation and education.

The area is  designated as ‘ancient woodland’.

The woodlands lie within the Parish boundary, from Hangman Stone Road along the ‘Crags’ to join the footpath from Stables Lane, and are jointly owned by the Parish Council and Halifax Estates Management Company.

The Woodlands Group consists of representatives from the Parish Council,  Halifax Estates, Barnburgh Primary School, Yorkshire Forest, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers,  Doncaster Wildlife Trust and interested members of the community.  The groups aim is to improve the management of the woodlands to maintain their ‘ancient woodland’ status.

Initially a woodlands management plan was professionally commissioned to identify and specify the work that should be completed in the woodlands. An archaeological survey was also carried out to ensure that any work undertaken would not interfere with the historic nature of the site.

There followed two years of  work, which involved felling of dangerous trees, thinning coppiced trees, selected removal and opening of the footpath areas. Funding for all these projects being obtained by various grants sourced by South Yorkshire Forest with contributions from both landowners, the Parish Council and Halifax Estates. 

If you are interested in assisting in this worthwhile project you are welcomed to attend any of the meetings. If you require any further information please contact the Parish Clerk or any Parish Councillor.

 parish.clerk@barnburghandharlington.co.uk

 

BARNBURGH AND HARLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
WOODLANDS GROUP

 

Notes of the meeting held at Barnburgh Village Hall on Thursday 13th January 2010 at 2.00pm.

Present: Guy Taylor (Chair), David Packham, Fred Peace, Janet Scott – Parish Council

John Palmer - Clerk.

Thomas Campion – Halifax Estates Management Company.

John Thompson – BTCV.

Kirsty Dawson –Barnburgh Primary School 

1.      Apologies were received N Semley 

2.      Notes of the meeting held on the 27th April 2010 were noted. 

3.      JT (BTCV) advised on work undertaken during recent scrub clearance days, removal of non-native species and glade creation. He also advised on the unsuccessful grant bid to the Brelms Trust. Consideration could be given to grant application to Landfill Funds covering similar work i.e. – further scrub clearance and glade creation along with provision of fencing to restrict access at the Hangman stone Lane entrance to deter fly tipping. It could also include community events to clear rubbish etc from the site. It was agreed that further consideration to this possible grant application be given at the next meeting. 

 

4.      Future use of the site for education purposes by Barnburgh Primary School was discussed. It was identified that there would be a need for path maintenance to allow access for children in particular to areas of Stables Wood. It was agreed that there was a need for the school to confirm its usage of the woodlands – number of visits? Time of year? – To allow work required to be quantified and organised.

The school would have to carry out a risk assessment prior to any visit, JS suggested that previously completed ‘hazard analysis’ could be used as a template and offered her assistance if required. TC requested that Halifax Estates should be notified of the dates of school visits prior to them taking place.

 

5.      ‘Hazard Analysis’ – question was raised concerning the inspection of the woodlands for the purpose of risk/hazard checking. 

 

6.      Options for funding future work in line with the management plan

The Clerk reported the current position with regard to ‘English Woodlands Grant Scheme’ the need to be registered with the Rural Payments Agency and woodlands registered on the Rural Land Register. TC advised of the complex nature of these registrations and the implications for Halifax Estates with other land management/stewardship schemes they were involved in. It was agreed to consider this matter further in connection with item 3 above at the next meeting.

 

7.      It was noted that the group were now members of the Small Woods Association.

 

8.      Date of next meeting – Friday 8th April 2011 at 2.00pm in the Village Hall.