Rural Development Initiatives was commissioned by the Ravine WoodLIFE project to produce a series of studies and to assist in the compilation of a management handbook. Financed through the European Union’s LIFE Nature scheme the Ravine WoodLIFE project was established to improve the management of the natural habitats and the wild fauna and flora of the SAC-designated ravine woodlands of the Peak District and Wye Valley. The project implemented a programme of capital works, instigated appropriate management agreements and raised public awareness of ravine woodlands but also commissioned research to investigate those issues affecting the management of the woodlands and delivered a final management handbook to allow the project’s experiences, results and conclusions to be broadcast to a wider professional audience following project closure and remain as a useful tool for the future managers of ravine woodland habitats.
Rural Development Initiatives researched and delivered three studies. The first study reported upon the timber and non-timber markets of woodland produce in the Peak District and Wye Valley; analysing the current condition of the markets and their future potential. The study included estimation of timber volumes, ascertaining the requirements of local timber millers and researching alternative models of management for low-volume hardwoods of indeterminate quality. The second study reported upon coppice management both within and without the project area, researching those prerequisites and stand compositions necessary to manage commercial coppice, coppicing and coppice establishment techniques, coppice for conservation management and, within the project areas, identifying those faunal or floral species present which may benefit from an appropriate coppice regime. The third study related to conservation management of the ravine woodlands generally, researching the efficacy of silvicultural systems other than coppice that could be applied and also drawing upon the study of grazing and browsing mammals compiled by another agency.
Finally, Rural Development Initiatives has also completed a series of case studies and executive summaries, both from original research and from the research of others to contribute to a ravine woodland management handbook; this will be a legacy of the LIFE project, enabling others to take their management forward in the future.
