ELLEN CLIFF WOOD (CZ/ES01) - Management Plan

Click here to see general ecological data for the site

Click here to see species lists for this site

 

Aims and Objectives

Ecological

  • Minimal tree thinning in winter. Carry out some tree planting of native species such as oak. There is a sizeable rookery in the southeast portion of the wood during spring and summer.
  • Southwest portion contains large areas of bluebell and has some structural diversity in places. Monitor this portion to ensure diverse age structure of trees and maintenance of dead wood habitats.
  • Construction and erection of bird and bat boxes.
  • Restore and manage a section of hedge alongside Stocksbridge Steel Valley Walk.

Recreational

  • Some scrub and vegetation control along footpaths (part of Steel Valley Walk) to make access more inviting (especially on the northeast access point from Wortley Road - north of railway viaduct).

Community and educational

  • Former allotment on area adjacent with Wortley Road could be brought back into use as allotment gardens or community orchard, herb garden, etc.

Management Prescription

 

AIM

CODE

METHOD

REASON

Set up community orchard/fruit or allotment garden

AG1

Community consultation prior to any work on site. Clearance of some scrub, tall herb and laying out of beds, composting facilities and possible use of polytunnel. Provide some security to site from vandalism.

Promote community involvement in spare open space.

Footpath maintenance and improvements at access points

FM1

Restoration of the access point north of the railway viaduct is needed with new steps and better surfaces for walking, cut back overhanging vegetation and make route safe from nearby dead trunks and branches etc. Retain deadwood on site.

Make access points into woodland and the Steel Valley Walk more inviting.

Tree thinning operations

TT1

Select a range of trees and closely growing juveniles for removal by felling.

Open up canopy and allow more light to reach the woodland floor to encourage ground flora and to improve woodland structure.

Tree and shrub planting

TS1

Plant more native species as opportunity arises, such as oak

Restore areas to locally distinctive animals and plants.

Bird nest box construction

BNB1

Locally produced nest boxes.

Encourage more birds into wood.

Bird nest box maintenance

BNB2

Clean out once a year in winter.

Remove parasites and encourage continued use.

Bat box construction

BB1

Locally produced (involve schools/community groups).

Make wood attractive to bats.

Leaf collection

LC1

Collect fallen leaves in Autumn for allotment garden compost heaps.

Provide materials for mulching beds.

Hedge improvement

HI1

Restore sections of and manage hedge on the north side of the Stocksbridge Steel Valley Walk footpath route.

Increase biodiversity.

Management Description

                                                                       

CODE

YEAR
SEASON

 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

 

AG1
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a

Any

FM1
a

a

a

a

a

Any

TS1

a

a

a

Winter

TT1
a

a

Winter

BNB1
a

a

Winter

BNB2

a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a

Winter

BB1
a

a

Any

LC1

a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a

Autumn

HI1

a

a

a

a

a

Winter

 

Stocksbridge SRB5 Greenspace Audit undertaken by Jim Flanagan for Sheffield Wildlife Trust - see their Community Action Handbook - full of good ideas for your local site


Back to map of ecological survey sites

Inner Zone

Knoll Top

Outer Zone

Oxley Park

Bracken Moor - playing fields

East Whitwell - open space

Wood Royd

Countryside Zone

Ellen Cliff Wood

Townend Common

Industrial Zone

Dog Lichen Field

Hen Holmes Wood

Little Don - acid heath

Little Don - open space

Exchange Sidings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Text and Photographs (unless stated otherwise) © Steel Valley Partnership Stocksbridge, all rights reserved. Terms of use: Any involved in education or training may copy the contents of these web pages, with the proviso that they always make reference to the original copyright.

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Web pages by Map21 Ltd - latest update 31 May 2004

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