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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Woodlands in Redditch Today

Redditch Borough Council owns and manages over 168 hectares (415 acres) of
woodlands. The majority of this area, approximately 116 hectares (289 acres), is
designated Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodland and is divided between 5 major woods
and several smaller spinneys. The major woods in Redditch are:
● Pitcheroak - Bromsgrove Road.

● Southcrest - Ashperton Close.

● Wirehill - Nine Days Lane.

● Oakenshaw - Rear of Tesco.

● Foxlydiate - Brockhill Drive.

The remaining 51 hectares (126 acres) consists of younger plantations of mixed conifer
and broad-leaved tree species, established as landscape/amenity and noise pollution
belts, often separating major roads, housing and industrial area throughout the Borough
of Redditch.

The woodlands are a highly valued part of the landscape of the Borough of Redditch,
providing the backdrop for much of the wider developments of the town historically and
a well used amenity by residents in the town.

There are 30 woodland and plantations sites currently included within the management
programme. The management objectives for each of the woodlands and plantations
vary, being led by the needs of local residents, conservation best practice and ideal
silvicultural* management systems to deliver these.

Why does the RDC need to manage woodlands and plantations?

These woodlands need to be managed for several reasons:
● to ensure their sustainability.

● to encourage wildlife.

● for the future survival of the trees.

● achieve a variation in tree age.

● to encourage the establishment of the three major vegetative layers within woodlands of
ground flora, shrub and over canopy creating wider habitat and bio-diversity.

Good woodland management requires trees to be felled, which may not make sense to
many people, however, an overcrowded wood limits light to the ground below, preventing
new trees from regenerating naturally and stops the growth of woodland flowers and
herbs. With each tree affecting one another, this reduces the quality of trees in the
Woodland. The majority of trees in Redditch were planted at the same time, meaning
they will die at the same time ultimately leaving us with no trees to enjoy.

The project started in 1995 and clear results and benefits have already been noticed in
relation to the aims above in areas having received management over the period since

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