Weed eradication and damage from mammals
Glorious Woodlands will monitor and eradicate unwanted weeds.
In accordance with The Weeds Act 1959, we will ensure the following weeds are not growing: spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock and common ragwort. The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 makes it illegal to not control weeds that could harm the amenity of the surrounding area.
Noxious weeds
Noxious weeds are specified as weeds that may threaten agricultural production if they spread into neighbouring farmland.
Glorious Woodlands will controlling noxious weeds, especially on woodland edges. If ragwort is growing on a woodland edge and spreads to neighbouring land where horses are paddocked it could cause serious problems.
Mechanical control measures for noxious weeds:
Mowing – Regular mowing slows down the spread of weeds, but it might take several years to eradicate species such as spear thistle and dock. Cutting below ground level kills giant hogweed, but cutting at or above ground level simply makes the species more vigorous. Mowing creeping thistle makes plants more vigorous and encourages them to spread. Regular mowing may weaken Japanese knotweed, but plants might not be killed, and cut material can spread infection. Cutting ragwort reduces seed production, but it will not kill the plant. Cut ragwort stems remain poisonous to mammals.
Cultivation – Ploughing or rotovating gives some control of spear thistle, ragwort and giant hogweed. Cultivation is not suitable for creeping thistle, docks or Japanese knotweed, because these weeds can spread through broken fragments of roots of rhizomes.
Pulling – Pulling can control ragwort, bit it is extremely time consuming and, if livestock is present, dead plants must be removed from site because they remain poisonous.
Herbicides – This is the cheapest and most effective method of weed control. Applying pre-emergent or residual herbicide in winter combined with translocated or foliar acting herbicide in spring and summer is widely used in planting schemes. Glorious Woodlands will ensure that anyone using herbicides holds the National Proficiency Training Council (NPTC) Certificate of Competence. Similarly, if herbicides are being used near watercourses, Glorious Woodlands will consult the Environment Agency.
Damage from mammals
Along with attracting wonderful wildlife to your woodland, some animals can harm your woods. Deer are one of the most damaging animals with the populations much higher than they have been previously. The lack of green leaves on the field layer of your woodland indicates deer using the woodland. Rabbits and hares may also be using your woodland, although they generally cause less damage than deer. It’s important to protect vulnerable young trees or coppice from wildlife by using tree shelters or fencing. Some browsing is beneficial to woodlands, Glorious Woodland’s aim is to make browsing sustainable by managing the amount of damage caused by animals.
