Projects / 2015
Biodiversity Management Plan
Planning for the Future of the Woods
By 2015, it was clear that Dunmore East Woods required more than routine maintenance. Following the significant damage caused by Storm Darwin and years of natural change, the Trust recognised the need for a long-term strategy to protect the woodland’s ecological health while ensuring it remained a safe and welcoming place for the community.
Working with professional ecologists and forestry specialists, and partially funded by The Heritage Council, the Trust commissioned a comprehensive Biodiversity Management Plan. This was the first detailed assessment of the woodland’s habitats, wildlife and long-term conservation needs, providing a roadmap for how the Woods should be cared for over the coming decades.
Why was it needed?
The plan was developed to ensure that future management decisions were based on sound ecological principles rather than short-term fixes.
It recognised that a healthy woodland requires active stewardship. Mature trees naturally decline, storms reshape the landscape, invasive species can threaten native habitats and new generations of trees must be encouraged if the woodland is to thrive in the future.
Rather than simply preserving the Woods as they were, the plan looked ahead, identifying practical measures that would help the woodland remain healthy, resilient and biodiverse for generations to come.
What was delivered?
The Biodiversity Management Plan established a long-term framework for the care of the woodland, including:
- A comprehensive ecological survey of the Woods.
- Identification of important habitats, trees and wildlife.
- Recommendations for protecting native flora and fauna.
- Guidance on managing invasive species.
- A “close to nature” approach to woodland management.
- Long-term recommendations for tree safety, natural regeneration and habitat enhancement.
- A programme of conservation work designed to balance biodiversity with public access.
Lasting Legacy
The Biodiversity Management Plan became the foundation for many of the Trust’s most significant projects.
Its recommendations directly informed the NeighbourWood Scheme, guided woodland restoration following Storm Darwin and continue to influence how the Trust manages biodiversity, tree safety, habitat conservation and visitor access today.
Perhaps its greatest achievement was changing the way the woodland is viewed — not simply as a collection of trees, but as a living ecosystem requiring thoughtful, long-term stewardship.
More than a decade later, the principles established in the Plan continue to shape every conservation decision made within Dunmore East Woods.