About

This Forest Plan (FP) summarises proposals by Forestry England for the management of the Bardney Limewoods in Lincolnshire. The Bardney Limewoods FP area is a cluster of fragmented woodlands totalling 1320.8ha, They straddle the East and West Lindsey Local Authorities about 12km east of Lincoln City, mostly lying between Wragby and Bardney with outliers of Wickenby to the north west and Horsington & Stixwould to the south east.

The woodlands themselves are very important ecologically: encompassing the Bardney Limewoods National Nature Reserve (NNR); the Sites of Special Interest of Wickenby, the Bardney Limewoods, and Little Scrubbs Meadow; and Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodland and Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites.

The Limewoods sit within the Central Lincolnshire Vale National Character Area which is characterised by a tranquil, rural and sparsely settled landscape, largely used for the growing of arable crops. The Bardney Limewoods NNR represents England’s biggest concentration of ancient small-leaved lime-dominated woodland and its associated high biodiversity value. The woodlands are visible at distance in the wider landscape context when viewed from high points within the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape on a clear day. Locally the woods are visible from public roads and nearby villages.

Objectives

The primary management objectives for the Bardney Limewoods FP are to:

• manage the statutory NNR & SSSI areas in line with the current management plan.
• continue the restoration of PAWS, maintain and improve the ecological value of priority habitats, and manage important open and woodland edge habitats to benefit flora and fauna.
• sustainably grow commercial timber using species and systems resilient to the impacts of pests, diseases and climate change to maximise yields and prioritise timber quality.
• conserve the heritage features and retain public access in freehold areas.
• conserve the heritage features and maintain existing public access in freehold areas.

What we'll do

The current plan outlines the management proposals for the Bardney Limewoods over the next 50 years. Felling is approved for the 10 year Forest Plan period until 7th November 2035. In addition to the below felling summary, thinning assessments will be made every 5 years and thinning operations scheduled accordingly.

A more detailed outline of the forest structure and planned operations can be seen in the full Bardney Limewoods Forest Plan document.