Planning for the New Forest
The New Forest District’s planning department employs five people with forestry, ecological, information technology and cartographic skills. The team prepares a range of plans for the area, all of which are used to guide management of the woodlands and open habitats. These include Forest Design Plans, Operational Site Assessments, Archaeological Plans and plans for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). All plans need to comply with a number of different conservation, recreation and Government strategies (download the Minister's Mandate (RTF 29K) here). An overall Forestry Strategy for England is produced by the Government, and then broken down into regional and local strategies to give more specific guidelines for the plans. If areas are designated as SSSIs or candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC) further guidelines are created to ensure that nature conservation becomes a much higher priority. Local people and teams of experts are regularly brought together to discuss the plans to ensure that broad support is given by those that use the forest. The list below shows the types of plans that are prepared. Forest Design Plans
Forest Design Plans for the New Forest inclosures were initially developed about five years ago and the first phase of work arising from these plans has now been implemented. A series of public meetings were held during the process to hear people’s views about their local woodlands, and the first five year review of these plans is now underway. Over the next twelve to eighteen months we will be revisiting communities to listen to views and comments about the first phase of work and proposed revisions to the plans. Operational Site Assessments
Operational plans are prepared for each of the 100 inclosures prior to work taking place to ensure that Forest Design Plans are correctly and accurately implemented, and that rare and fragile features and habitats are identified and protected as work progresses. Archaeological Plans
The planning team also produce management plans for each of the scheduled archaeological monuments in the forest (of which there are over 100) to ensure that they are protected and preserved for future generations. These plans have been developed in consultation with English Heritage, the government body responsible for ancient monuments. Plans for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Under the Forest Design Plans, the team creates specific plans to address nature conservation in these specially designated areas. There are currently fifteen SSSI plans for Dorset’s designated areas that cover approximately 700 hectares. All of the New Forest has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The management plan for the Crown Lands of the New Forest sets out all the actions to be taken by the Forestry Commission in managing this protected area. This plan also forms part of the New Forest SAC plan. Many of the plans produced are approved for a five or ten year period only. This is to ensure that the plans are flexible working documents and that any necessary revisions can be made based on frequent reviews and consultations. The overall objective for the Planning team is to ensure that management plans for the Forest District deliver public benefits in the form of improved biodiversity for wildlife, attractive woodlands for people and rural employment for communities. Each plan has its own unique set of objectives, but generally all Forest Design Plans aim to: - Restore or re-create New Forest habitats; - Maintain or enhance existing New Forest habitats for nature conservation; - Manage public access to protect vulnerable habitats; - Create an appropriate mosaic of woodland, heathland, native grassland and wetland habitats; - Grow quality timber for future generations; - Protect archaeological sites; and, - Mould inclosure boundaries into the landscape. Download the Forest Design Plan leaflet (PDF 383K) here for more information.
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