Woodland clearings
Scallops
A scallop is a semi-circle shaped area along the edge of a path or ride that has been cleared of trees. This creates a varied woodland edge as glades allow shrubs, herbs and grasses to grow. To benefit from sunshine, a scallop is best placed on the north side of an east-west ride and on the south-facing side of a woodland.
Glades
Glades are openings within a woodland, for example, a recently coppiced area. They allow wildflowers and insect species to flourish in the middle of your woodland due to the exposure of sunlight and warmth. Glades are even better when they are fringed by big trees to provide some shelter.
Grassy clearings, glades and woodland edges are amongst the most important habitats for many woodland invertebrates and birds. A lot of these species cannot survive in the shade of a closed canopy and instead need sunlight, warmth and nectar-rich plants on sunny woodland edges.
Permanent open space includes grassy clearings, rides and tracks. Permanent open space in woodland supports plant and animal species which require sunny conditions. Temporary open space is created by coppicing when a coupe has been recently cut, along rides or other open spaces which are cleared in rotation. Temporary open space supports plant and animal species which are adapted to take advantage of sudden increases in light and space.
