Buckler’s Forest tree work

This autumn we will be undertaking further woodland management work.

Our rangers will be converting a small area of woodland to heathland. Refer to the map below.

This is needed for the wildlife that lives on site and is part of our long-term management plan.

Further information about this work is available below.

What we have been doing

We have been undertaking woodland management work at Buckler’s Forest, Crowthorne.

In some areas of the conifer plantation, trees have been thinned and temporary glades (open wooded areas) created.

Hundreds of native trees have also been planted to support woodland regeneration.

The work took place in autumn 2024 and January 2025, with further improvements planned.

The map below shows these areas.

Why we did this

We have been doing this:

• as the work is identified in the 10-year woodland and site management plan
• to enhance the mix of wildlife-rich habitats
• to improve habitat connectivity, on site and into neighbouring areas
• to maintain and improve site amenity value for visitors
• for future maintenance requirements
• to build in resilience to factors, such as climate change and wildfires

Selective woodland thinning

The woodland plantation at Buckler’s Forest is made up of conifer species, which are of similar ages and heights. This type of monoculture is not good for woodland biodiversity. It is also a potential future maintenance concern.

This management work will establish a better mix of habitats where wildlife can thrive and create a more varied landscape for visitors to enjoy. This includes increasing the coverage of local lowland heath, a habitat known to be rich in wildlife. 

Temporary woodland glades - open areas

Glades are areas of open woodland, which are usually rich in wildlife.

We have established new temporary glades at Buckler’s Forest in areas where the most improvement to biodiversity can be made. This is in areas where Western Hemlock grows.

Western Hemlock is a non-native, evergreen species that grows densely, blocking out light for other species. Removing it will allow more light to reach the forest floor. This will benefit other young trees, shrubs and plants.

For the first 5 years, these temporary glades will serve as areas of open woodland. They will provide habitat for birds such as woodlarks and nightjars, which favour bare patches of ground and clearings for ground nesting.

Reptiles like slow worms and common lizards like these sunny spots, where they can warm themselves.

After 5 years, the glades will start to transform into new young mixed woodland. At this point, new temporary glades will be created in another part of the conifer plantation. In the long-term this will create a mosaic of age structures through the forest.

Woodland regeneration

We have planted native trees, to boost woodland regeneration in the three areas to the north. 

We prepared the ground to give the new trees the best chances of survival, including scraping off the thick humus layer of needles. 

Tree planting was finished by the end of March 2025. We planted hundreds of new trees, far more than the amount taken out. 

We carefully selected the trees to include those species that are already found present on the site, and those which are happy to be planted in acidic soils. Trees have been protected from deer damage with either biodegradable guards, or guards recycled from the site.

Extending lowland heath

In autumn 2026, we will be creating a 1.2 acre (0.5 hectare) area of new heathland in a central area of the woodland. This area already has patches of heathland, which we are looking to extend.

To do this, our rangers will selectively, and carefully, remove conifers to create new space for heathland plants to grow. Species such as heather will provide suitable habitat for wildlife such as insects, reptiles and birds.

Lowland heath is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat. Many of the heathland-specific species are vulnerable across the UK and have been identified within the Bracknell Biodiversity Action Plan.

The new heathland area compliments those already on site and promotes connectivity into neighbouring areas.

Further carefully selected areas will be converted in following years, as part of a phased approach.

Precautions

We carefully planned and managed this work to minimise disruption to visitors and wildlife. We consulted the relevant authorities where required and made sure all necessary permissions were in place.

To help reduce the impact of the works, we:

• obtained a felling licence from Forestry Commission England (reference 1475)
• consulted residents and businesses who may be directly affected by this work
• provided advanced site notices, so visitors could better plan their route
• shared news of these works with residents
• planned the work to take place outside of school summer holidays, when they would have less impact on visitors
• liaised with the Forestry Commission and a felling contractor who are experienced in carrying out this type of work
• carried the work out away from the road
• provided safety advice when the work was underway

To protect wildlife, we:

• carried out the work outside of bird nesting season
• took advice from experts to minimise disturbance to wildlife
• arranged bat surveys to be carried out by an ecologist
• are not doing the work during reptile hibernation period

Funding the work

Buckler’s Forest is owned by the Land Trust. 

The Trust is a charitable body which contracts with the council’s parks and countryside service to deliver on the agreed plans for the site.

There is no cost benefit to the council or the Land Trust for carrying out woodland management work, which is funded by the landowners through SANG provision.