About the forest plan area

Situated six miles Southwest of Gateshead, Gibside estate is regarded as one of the greatest examples of 18th century landscape design. The site itself is owned and managed by the National Trust, and Forestry England holds a leasehold interest in 110.2 ha of the woods on the estate on a reducing basis as woodland is felled and the responsibility for restocking passes back to the landowner, the National Trust.

The forest lies in the Gateshead District Council area, in the North East of England and is therefore an important part of the green infrastructure to a population of around 1.7 million people.

Background information and woodland status 

The woods on the estate form the background structure within which a series of formal vistas and drives were placed. The landscape was created by George Bowes between the years 1730 to 1767 but became derelict around the time of the Second World War, when most of the woods were clear-felled. Remnants of the original landscape plantings still survive, notably some common lime and yew planting along the vistas and drive, and beech and oak within the woodlands. Work to restore elements of the 18th century designed landscape of the estate is ongoing and will be a long-term process. 

The then Forestry Commission gained a leasehold interest in the woods in the mid-1950s. Under a deed-of-surrender, Forestry England only maintains an interest in the trees on the estate until either the current tree crops are felled, or when management of the estate woods reverts to the National Trust in 2036. 

Following the war-time felling in the 1940s, the woodlands on the estate were restocked from 1950 onwards, with commercial species in line with government policy of the day to provide a strategic timber resource. This created a very even-aged forest structure across the land holding, with 86% of the plantation in post 1940 age classes.The current woodland structure still reflects this restocking though a mixture of spruce, Scots and Corsican pine, larch and fir, with the broadleaf component including beech, oak, ash and which elm.

Much of the woodland is classified as ancient woodland and plantation on ancient woodland and future management will focus on moving away from plantation forestry back towards an irregular structure of native woodland species.  

The woodlands of Gibside include the Snipesdene site of special scientific interest which has a focus on broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland along with amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. 

Objectives of the plan

• Work with National Trust to improve the historic landscape vistas of the property. 
• Continue the restoration of the ancient woodland sites.
• Move the SSSI further towards favourable condition.
• Produce timber from woodland management. 

What we'll do

Forest operations will focus on continuing to move forest structure towards an more native species mix. These are as follows:

• clearfelling of two areas of western Hemlock – coupes 36228 and 36235. 
• thinning throughout the wider woodland to remove non-native conifers and reduce the prevalence of beech and sycamore, breaking the even-aged canopy to create light to encourage natural regeneration.

For more information, download the full plan below.