Matlock Forest Plan
About the area
The Matlock Forest Plan covers 483 hectares across seven woodlands: Sitches, Whitesprings Plantation, Seventy Acre, Forty Acre, Upper Moor, Farley Moor, and Bottom Moor. Together, these woodlands form a distinctive landscape on Matlock Moor in Derbyshire, sitting on a plateau that rises to around 300 metres above the River Derwent valley.
The forest area is made up of:
- 388.5 ha of conifer woodland
- 78 ha of broadleaf woodland
- 16.5 ha of open ground
Although the woodlands are separated by fields and areas of open moorland, they are partially visible from one another and stand out prominently in the wider landscape. Key viewpoints include public roads that cross the moor, surrounded by open heather moorland and acid grassland traditionally grazed by sheep.
The heart of the plan area lies roughly 2.4 km north of Matlock and 9 km south‑west of Chesterfield.
Objectives of the plan
This Forest Plan outlines detailed proposals for felling and restocking for 10 years from 2026, alongside broader strategic goals for the next 50 years. The key objectives are:
- sustainable timber production: continued harvesting of commercial conifers and broadleaves to support the local economy and timber industry.
- biodiversity and habitat conservation: protect and enhance habitats for a wide range of species, including birds of national importance.
- climate resilience and forest health: diversify woodland structure and species composition to reduce vulnerability to climate change, pests, and diseases, ensuring long-term ecological and economic resilience.
- informal recreation: maintain access for quiet, informal recreation while protecting sensitive habitats.
What we'll do
The plan details approved management operations including felling and restocking for the ten years to 2036, with outline proposals for a 50 year period.
| Conifers | Broadleaves | Total area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearfell | 53.5 | 3.7 | 57.2 |
Restocking and regeneration | 53.5 | 3.7 | 57.2 |
In addition to the above felling, 131ha will be managed using Lower Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS). This will be done through the removal of small groups of trees, removing no more than 40% of the stems within any single management unit/compartment over the plan period. This operation will provide sufficient light to boost growth of understorey and ground flora, allow adequate space for the development of crowns and stem form for quality timber and accelerate individual tree growth.