Lennoxlove Forest Plan

A plan for the management of Lennoxlove’s woodlands.

Project Background

Located in East Lothian, Lennoxlove Estate has a rich silvicultural history. Its woodlands hold a glorious 600 year old sweet chestnut, trees planted by Kings and Queens, and oak seeds from the woodlands were sent to the USA to assist with oak tree recovery efforts there.

The woodlands have primarily been managed on a continuous cover principle, which supports the ecological health and biodiversity of the woodlands while also providing a source of timber.

Lennoxlove have instructed us (TreeStory) to create a long-term forest plan (LTFP) for the woodlands, setting out the woodland management objectives for the next 20 years. The LTFP will capture long-term, strategic management objectives and translate them into detailed site operations through a process of site assessment, consultation and design. We have started gathering all the background information needed to inform our LTFP for these beautiful, varied woodlands.

An earlier forest plan covered the estate for the period 2015 to 2026. This plan reviews and replaces it, taking account of how the woodlands, their condition and their setting have changed since.

We are eager to hear your input, questions, and thoughts about the management of Lennoxlove’s woodlands so please fill out the feedback form which is linked below, or get in touch directly with us – cecilie.kjoller@treestory.org.uk | elanor.teel@treestory.org.uk

Project Aims

It is our aim that the long-term forest plan for Lennoxlove will help guide efforts to:

Provide a diverse and thriving woodland for future generations

Protect the sensitive and valuable woodland ecosystems at Lennoxlove

Diversify the species and age range of the woodlands

Connect people with the woodlands of Lennoxlove

Balance the public access needs of visitors with the protection of a sensitive ecosystem

Map

The map opposite shows the various objectives of the LTFP across Lennoxlove.

You can view the pdf by clicking the button below.

Concept Map

Objectives

The main objectives of the LFTP are to enhance the ecological condition of Lennoxlove’s woodlands. The key management objectives are listed below:

Protect and enhance areas native woodland throughout woodlands, encouraging natural regeneration and diversifying the woodland structure.
Assess and remove invasive species
Maintain the existing recreation provisions and enhance the interpretation material along popular routes.
Create a sustainable source of timber.

Considerations

As part of the long-term forest plan process, we make sure to keep a record of considerations or issues that are raised, which we will consider and mitigate. Below is a list of considerations that are on our radar, but we welcome any more comments you may have.

Deer browsing – site survey work complete for the LTFP will help inform the deer management plan for the estate
Access – public access to these important woodlands will be maintained and encouraged
Invasive species – the LTFP will include management suggestions for invasive species
Protected species – Lennoxlove is home to a vast variety of wildlife and plant life. We will take a holistic and balanced approach to woodland management, ensuring that management suggestions are appropriate for the wider ecosystem while enhancing the woodlands.

Click the button below to read about the considerations in more detail.

Considerations