An ecological survey of NPWS woodland properties in County Wicklow, preparation of a Woodland Management Strategy for the Wicklow Mountains National Park, and preparation of Woodland Management Plans for other NPWS-owned woodland sites in County Wicklow.
Article 17 monitoring has indicated that woodland habitats within these sites are largely in unfavourable conservation status, primarily due to non-native invasive species and overgrazing by deer (O’Neill & Barron 2013; Daly et al. 2023), and are in need of restoration
NPWS has commissioned equivalent assessment criteria for the monitoring of non-Annex WN2 Oak-ash-hazel woodland.
The Plans should take a landscape-level management approach, where possible, with regard to woodland expansion, deer management, and cooperation with adjoining landowners, particularly Coillte. They should identify and prioritise potential areas for woodland expansion and land acquisition. The Plans should be proactive, forecasting threats arising from adjacent lands and other potential future threats and opportunities. They should identify potential parallel projects with adjacent landowners and additional research needs.
A Deer Management Plan and an Invasive Species Management Plan for the National Park are due to be delivered shortly (separate to this contract). The Deer Management Plan will make specific recommendations for woodlands, the Invasive Species Management Plan will focus more on open land, therefore capturing this aspect for woodlands will be important.
Ballinagee (Oakwood) is located outside the National Park boundary but is within the remit of National Park staff. It should be incorporated into the WMS as a parallel project in an Appendix. This 5.49 ha property adjoins the Kings River. It contains c. 2.4 ha of 91A0 Old sessile oak woods as well as conifer plantation with potential for replacement with native woodland. It would seem to be suited to the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme. A woodland management specification for a works tender should be prepared.
The Woodland Management Plan for the Glen of the Downs should be prioritised for completion in 2024 as habitat mapping is already available. Knocksink, Tomnafinnoge and Deputy’s Pass are next in order of priority.
Quarterly progress reports must be submitted to the NPWS Project Officer, Dr Jenni Roche.
Survey sites in Co. Wicklow
Site Forested area (ha) Notes (areas are approximate)
- Vale of Clara Nature Reserve – Includes adjacent 75 ha area currently owned by Coillte to be transferred to NPWS
- Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve – Recent habitat mapping available
- Knocksink Nature Reserve
- Deputy’s Pass Nature Reserve – Includes adjacent 20.5 ha area currently owned by Coillte to be transferred to NPWS
- Tomnafinnoge Wood
- Baltyboys Lower – Broadleaf plantation recently bequeathed to NPWS. Not previously surveyed (ITM 698500 710000)
- Ballinagee Wood (Oakwood) – Includes NSNW site no. 799 and conifer plantation
- Wicklow Mountains National Park/Glendalough Nature Reserve – Multiple sub-sites. The National Landcover Map indicates forest cover as follows:
Broadleaved Forest and Woodland: 99 ha
Coniferous Forest: 83 ha
Transitional Forest: 314 ha
Total 1031 ha
*Habitat mapping in GIS format is already available for the Glen of the Downs (Scott Cawley Ltd., 2020)
Source
https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=3878452
