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Condition Assessment & Monitoring form for woodlands*

Please send completed forms to: records@essexwt.org.uk, or to the Records Officer,

Essex Wildlife Trust, Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Essex CO5 7RZ

Date: Site:

Surveyor/s:

Start time: Finish time:

Site description / woodland type & weather conditions:

Grid references of stopping points (6 figures min):

1. _____________________________ 6. _____________________________

2. _____________________________ 7. _____________________________

3. _____________________________ 8. _____________________________

4. _____________________________ 9. _____________________________

5. _____________________________ 10. _____________________________

1. Structure & Natural Processes:

Structure &

Processes:

Stopping point:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Open space (e.g.

clearings, rides) %

3 age classes present

amongst commonest

tree species? (Y/N)

Shrub layer % cover

3 trees of >60cm

diameter? (Y/N)

2 standing / fallen

dead trees? (Y/N)

2. Regeneration Potential:

Regeneration Stopping point:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Number of seedlings

visible (<1.5m)

Number of saplings

visible (>1.5m tall)

% of coppice stools /

pollards regenerating

% of regrowth

showing signs of

browsing

2

3. Composition:

Composition Stopping Point:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

% non-native species

in canopy (i.e. turkey

oak)

% non-native species

in shrub layer

% of trees and shrubs

showing evidence of

disease (see other

features)

Please list dominant species below

4. Quality:

Quality Stopping Point

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Standing and fallen

dead wood present

(Y/N)

Ancient woodland

indicators present

(Y/N)

Negative plant

indicators present

(Y/N)

Veteran Trees

present? (Y/N) – see

separate sheet

Other features present

typical of woodland

type / microhabitats?

(Y/N)

Please list dominant species, ancient woodland and negative plant indicators seen below:

Stopping point:

1. ____________________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________________________

6. ____________________________________________________________________________

7. ____________________________________________________________________________

8. ____________________________________________________________________________

9. ____________________________________________________________________________

10. ____________________________________________________________________________

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5. Extent:

Extent

Stopping point

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Permanent change in

land use present?

(Y/N)

% canopy cover of

mature trees

Woodland boundary

visible? (Y/N)

Connections to other

habitats visible (e.g.

hedgeline, scrub area,

wildlife friendly

gardens)? (Y/N)

6. Other features:

a. Woodland management:

Management:

evidence of

Stopping point:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Coppicing (Y/N)

Pollarding (Y/N)

Felling (Y/N)

Deer control / fencing

(Y/N)

Planting (Y/N)

Ride / habitat creation

(Y/N)

Other (please give

details below)

b. Evidence of diseased / damaged trees:

Evidence of: Stopping point:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Disease e.g. sudden

oak death (Y/N)

(please give details

below)

Damage e.g. fly

tipping, storm

damage, damage from

machinery (Y/N)

Details of diseased / damaged areas:

4

c. Veteran trees: generally 1m DBH or more

Tree: Form (i.e. pollard,

maiden,

coppiced)

% of live

canopy

Hollow trunk

or

limbs?(Y/N)

Tears, splits,

scars or rot

sites? (Y/N)

Bark sap

runs? (Y/N)

Species: ______________

Gridref: ______________

DBH (m): ______________

Species: ______________

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Species: ______________

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DBH (m): ______________

Species: ______________

Gridref: ______________

DBH (m): ______________

Species: ______________

Gridref: ______________

DBH (m): ______________

Species: ______________

Gridref: ______________

DBH (m): ______________

Species: ______________

Gridref: ______________

DBH (m): ______________

Species: ______________

Gridref: ______________

DBH (m): ______________