Woodland Opportunities Mapping

Here in the West Midlands our Regional Forestry Framework already sets a high priority for Woodland Opportunities Mapping and the delivery plan outlines a range of actions for developing and using robust targeting tools in order to significantly increase our tree and woodland cover.

Key players came together to review current policy and action on Woodland Opportunities Mapping in 2004. Opportunities were considered which geared up implementation linked to our regional policies and priorities.

Accordingly a Task and Finish Group was formed under the auspices of the Regional Woodland and Forestry Forum.

See Notes from the Meetings here
 

Background
The Regional Forestry Framework (RFF) for the West Midlands was launched in October 2004 and comprised 11 themes (now reduced to 9) (www.growingourfuture.org). A key output under the Woodland Cover theme, was to produce a Woodland Opportunities Map (WOM). This aimed to:

  • Help focus activity on areas of maximum public benefit in creating and managing woodlands in the region
  • Assist the FC and other funding bodies regionally in making decisions about proposals to create and manage woodlands (via regional scoring)
  • Assist landowners in making decisions about how their proposals fit into the wider regional aspirations of the RFF

The approach taken
Regional stakeholders including the FC Regional Advisory Committee and others helped scope the approach. The FC chaired a small Task Group of regional stakeholders that is charged with developing the WOM. They recommended that the following criteria were considered:

  • Landscape (links to Landscape Character Assessments)
  • Heritage (links to Historic Landscape Characterisations)
  • Biodiversity (links to Regional Biodiversity targets etc)
  • Access (links to Woodland Trust/FC Woods for People project & CROW)

Version 2 consultation was carried out in Spring 2007. The Version 2 maps have now been published on the Forestry Commission West Midlands web pages. 

Further details please contact:
Simon West
Implementation Manager
FC West Midlands
Tel: 01905 532200
Email: simon.west@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

You can also see the scoping paper here.
 
What the map looks like
The intention was to produce a regional map that indicates preferred, neutral and sensitive areas. There maybe companion maps that show similar areas by the criteria outlined above (landscape, heritage etc).
Accompanying the map are some notes to flesh out the detail of what the map is showing. These are fairly high level and in summary rather than trying to be prescriptive. At a county level there may be more detail available, such as the draft Worcestershire Woodland Guidelines. The intention would be for such sub-regional guidelines to complement the WOM and add more detail at the sub-regional level.
 
Caveats
It is important to note that the WOM is be very strategic and only gives a broad indication of likely preferences or sensitivities and is not intended to be prescriptive. So for example, it is envisaged that there maybe sensitive areas within those broadly designated preferred and areas with potential for accommodating certain types of woodland within those broadly designated sensitive . Further discussion with a range of stakeholders is likely to be needed. The detail of determining proposals for woodland creation under EWGS, for example, will continue to operate at local level on a case by case basis within the existing regulatory framework (EIA, UKWAS, FC guidelines).



Meetings
(All notes are in Word format unless otherwise indicated)

Notes of meeting 21st February 2008 (.pdf)
Note of Meeting 05 September 2007
Note of Meeting 09 February 2007
Note of Meeting 15 September 2006
Note of Meeting 04 July 2006
Note of Meeting 03 May 2006
Note of Meeting 19 January 2006
Note of Meeting 01 December 2005
Note of Meeting 08 September 2005
Note of Meeting 08 June 2005
Note of Meeting 04 March 2005
Note of Meeting 12 April 2004

See this summary in Word format