Drive to enhance ancient woodlands set out in 50-year strategy for forest

The proposed strategy has been drawn up for Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire and includes a range of aims including re-introducing native species of trees to replace conifers, which were planted in a post-war drive to increase timber supplies.

The draft plan is due to be enhance forestry through diversification to improve the experience for the forest’s 450,000 visitors each year.

The North York Moors National Park Authority’s head of natural environment, Simon Wightman, said the plan recognised the importance of the 8,500-acre forest for wildlife, landscape, heritage and recreation and had “safeguards in place to ensure that these interests are protected and enhanced”.

The forest has four Sites of Special Scientific Interests – Ellerburn Bank, Eller’s Wood and Sand Dale, Sieve Dale Fen, and Troutsdale and Rosekirk Dale Fens. Open space in the forest, including agricultural, felled and unplanted land, accounts for 17 per cent of its total area. Among the key objectives of the plan is to conserve veteran trees, maintain a sustainable supply of timber and provide recreational facilities.

Authority members are being recommended to approve the plan and work to deliver it with Forest Enterprise, which manages land for the Forestry Commission.