About the plan

This Forest Plan (FP) summarises proposals by Forestry England for the management of the Ropsley Woodlands in Lincolnshire. The Ropsley Woodlands FP area totals 208.8ha and comprises the fragmented individual woods of Ropsley Rise (56ha), Boothby Great (67.2ha), Boothby Little (26.8ha) and Ingoldsby (58.8ha). They are situated inside South Kesteven District, up to 10km southwest of Grantham and within 5km of Ropsley village.

The Ropsley Woodlands fall mostly inside the Kesteven Uplands National Character Area which is characterised by a gently rolling, mixed farming landscape. The woodlands themselves include areas of Deciduous Woodland Priority Habitat, and comprise predominantly Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodland and Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites, with a small proportion of broadleaved secondary woodland. They are prominent features in their immediate landscape and visible from respective local roads and footpaths.

Objectives of the plan

The primary management objectives for the Ropsley Woodlands FP are to:

• support the delivery of the Forestry England Wild Ingoldsby Project, working in harmony with the Boothby Wildland Landscape Recovery Scheme to provide substantial gains for biodiversity.
• 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 maintain informal public access in freehold areas. 

What we'll do

The current plan outlines the management proposals for the Ropsley Woodlands over the next 50 years. Felling is approved for the 10 year Forest Plan period until 23 April 2036. In addition to the below felling summary, thinning assessments will be made every five years and thinning operations scheduled accordingly. 

A more detailed outline of the forest structure and planned operations can be seen in the full Ropsley Woodlands Forest Plan document, available to download below.