forest design principles€¦ · • the broad shapes of the hills, ridges and gullies will be...

Forest Design PrinciplesNicholas Shepherd MLI MICForLandscape & Culture AdvisorScottish Forestry

UK Forestry Standard 20172

Forest Design Principles

Introduction

What? An appreciation of the established forest design principles to the UK Forestry Standard

Why? Essential to carrying out forest landscape designWhere? Landscapes experienced by peopleWho? Forest planner (landscape consultant)When? During the preparation of a forest management

plan; for new woodland creation or the management of an existing forest

How? As an integral part of the process of forest management planning.



Landscape context

UK Forest Standard (UKFS) 2017Sets out sustainable forest management

Forests and Landscape Requirements and Guidelines Sets out good forestry practice requirements for landscape and guidelines on how to comply with those requirements

European Landscape Convention A UK obligation, signed and ratified 2006, highlighted in UKFS

Landscape …an area, as perceived by people, whose visual features and character are the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.



Landscape character

geology, geomorphology and climate= topography, landform, waterbodies

+elevation, exposure, soils and hydrology= vegetation pattern

+human influences and activity= settlement, infrastructure and land use

Key characteristics are those which are most persistent, most dominant and most influential in defining identity

Landscape character is also about how people experience the natural resources and cultural heritage that define place.



Landscape character



Landscape character

T



Landscape character

In Wales, national coverage of landscape character is provided in the National Landscape Character Areas (NLCAs) published by NRW

Recognised NLCAs more a resource for working at a strategic level and providing a wider context

More detailed, smaller scale Local Landscape Character Areas (LLCAs) published by local authorities and may form part of their Supplementary Planning Guidance

All have the benefit of providing a shared understanding of the character of a landscape area, providing a baseline for planning for landscape change and informing forest design.



Landscape sensitivities

Designations

• Striking landscape character (Welsh National Parks)• Scenic value (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty)• Regional or local significance (Special Landscape Areas)• Historic importance (Registers of Landscapes of Historic

Interest and Historic Parks and Gardens in Wales, Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Wales.)

Other sensitivities• Setting of important features, landmarks and settlements• Iconic views• Local landmarks.



UKFS Guidelines on Forests and Landscape

Forest design principles

• Shape• Landform• Pattern of enclosure• Scale• Diversity• Unity• Spirit of place.



Shape – the external form or outline of an object

In upland landscapes

• Landform dominates• The broad shapes of the hills, ridges and gullies will be

influential• Landform shape can be boldly rounded or rugged• Vegetation pattern is generally irregular• Shapes are generally organic and naturalistic.



Shape in upland landscapes

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Shape

In lowland landscapes

• Enclosure and field vegetation pattern may dominate -especially where relief is low and topography subdued

• Landform is often smooth, but can be irregular, with more complex tiers and rocky outcrops

• Vegetation pattern is frequently geometric and regular• Shapes can be regular and ordered.



Shape in lowland landscapes

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Shape and the forest

Current forest

Future forest



Landform – a three dimensional shape

In upland landscapes

• Landform is usually the most dominant and obvious shape• Landform is three dimensional and is a big influence on

forest design • Analyse the visual interpretation of landform in detail to

inform the shapes of a forest • The shapes could be the outside edge, internal open

spaces, felling coupes and species pattern• Convention of red arrows to indicate spurs and ridges,

green arrows to indicate hollows and dips.



Landform analysis

Future forest and response to landform analysis

Landform analysis over greyscale of current forest



Pattern of enclosure – cultural shapes over landform

Current enclosure pattern landscape

Woodland creation respecting enclosure pattern



Pattern of enclosure and landform



Scale – the relative size between elements as seen

Relatively large landscape scale

Relatively small local scale



Scale and the forest

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

BL LTR

Conifer LTR

Felling phasesPerspective

Plan



Diversity – number of different elements

Reasons for diversity in the forest landscape

• Biodiversity – creating a variety of habitats • Economic – extending species and age spread to maximise

the range of timber products in an evolving market• Climatic change – introducing adaptation measures for a

resilient future forest, including species and structural diversity through wider range of silvicultural systems

• Structural stability – increasing the percentage of continuous cover to maintain canopy cover, reducing the impact of extreme climatic events…



Diversity

Reasons for diversity in the forest landscape

• Visual diversity – refers to the number of different elements that can be seen in a landscape

• Public preference – research shows that people prefer being in forests with diversity of tree species and ages, and open space revealing other landscape features

• How much diversity – appropriate to landscape character and how the forest is used

• Diversity opportunities – more species and age class opportunities in sheltered low lying areas, larger and fewer elements in simpler exposed upland landscapes.



Diversity and the forest

Current forest

Future forest



Unity – component parts work together in harmony

Achieving unity in forest design so that the elements complement each other and the forest contributes positively to the character of the local landscape

• Shape – related to landform and/or enclosure pattern• Landform – designed shapes related to landform analysis• Enclosure – design related to the enclosure pattern• Scale – large scale shapes relate to large scale landscapes,

smaller scale shapes relate to lower-lying and smaller scale landscapes. Also, scale of open spaces well proportioned

• Diversity – degree of diversity is appropriate to the character of the landscape

• Spirit of place – conserve and emphasise these qualities.



Application of the forest design principles

FC Practice Guide

• Provides step-by-step guidance for each of the planning stages in the preparation of a forest management plan

• For both the creation of new forests and woodlands, and management of existing

• Page 50 appendix of worked examples on FR web-site.

Thank you for listening

Nicholas Shepherd MLI MICForLandscape & Culture AdvisorScottish Forestry

forest design principles€¦ · • the broad shapes of the hills, ridges and gullies will be...

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