Forestry
Our country park woodlands are important for visitors, biodiversity, and are a historic feature in the landscape of Buckinghamshire. The management of these important spaces is a long-term process.
Just as our gardens require regular care, trees need ongoing management to remain healthy. We use our Forestry Commission approved management plans to help us to manage our wildlife-rich woodlands that can continue to be enjoyed for years to come.
Why do we need to manage our woodlands?
Much of the woodland across our country parks was originally planted as a plantation, with trees growing closely together as a commercial crop. As these trees mature, they begin to compete for light, water and nutrients.
By carefully managing the woodland, we can:
- Give the healthiest trees more room to grow.
- Increase light levels reaching the woodland floor. This allows trees to naturally regenerate from existing seeds.
- Encourage woodland plants, wildflowers and young trees.
- Create better habitats for wildlife.
- Improve the woodland’s resilience to disease, pests and climate change.
What happens when forestry takes place?
We complete forestry work out outside of the main growing and nesting seasons, to reduce the disturbance to wildlife and vegetation.
Visitor safety is our highest priority. During the forestry works, you may notice:
- Temporary path closures and access restrictions around active work sites.
- Forestry machinery and timber stacks in some areas.
- Increased vehicle movements associated with harvesting operations.
- Changes to parts of the woodland landscape while work is underway.
When forestry works take place, trees are removed and used as timber. These trees are sent to the timber market, generating a small income from the forestry works. They will be used as a sustainable natural resource in products and construction, as well as animal bedding and fuel, through biochip or firewood.
Immediately after forestry work is completed, some areas may appear untidy. This is a normal and expected part of woodland management. The parts of the tree left on the woodland floor after forestry are called brash. This does not always look attractive, however, these materials play an important role in the woodland's recovery.
What happens after forestry works have been completed?
All forestry work is completed in cycles focusing on different areas within the country parks over several years.
The woodlands will naturally start to adapt once forestry works have been completed. The increased light in the woodland will help to create healthier trees, more diverse habitats, and a more resilient woodland ecosystem for both wildlife and visitors.
Do you have more questions about forestry?
Take a moment to read the information about upcoming forestry works in our country parks below.
In autumn 2026, we will begin works across our woodlands at Black Park Country Park, Langley Park Country Park, and Rowley Wood.
We expect timber harvesting to begin in autumn 2026. The follow up works and woodland recovery will continue into 2027.
Visitor safety is our highest priority. During the forestry works, you may notice:
- Temporary path closures and access restrictions around active work sites.
- Forestry machinery and timber stacks in some areas.
- Increased vehicle movements associated with harvesting operations.
- Changes to parts of the woodland landscape while work is underway.
We know temporary restrictions on paths and informal routes through woodland can be frustrating. When visiting the country parks, we ask you to follow all on-site signage and instructions from Country Parks staff and contractors. By following the advice on site during forestry works, our visitors can help us to ensure that all visitors and our Country Parks staff, contractors are kept safe.
We understand that one of the reasons woodlands are so popular with our visitors is the opportunity to walk off the beaten track. These routes are called desire lines. It can be calming and restorative to walk on a little used track in a woodland, only seeing the odd glimpse of wildlife.
Wherever we walk off the path in a woodland, this compacts the woodland floor and discourages natural regeneration. By using tree branches and other natural debris from forestry works, we can help to protect the woodland floor on these informal routes. This encourages natural regeneration, which is our main source of young tree growth coming through for future generations.
Immediately after forestry work is completed, some areas may appear untidy. This is a normal and expected part of woodland management. The parts of the tree left on the woodland floor after forestry are called brash. This does not always look attractive, however, these materials play an important role in the woodland's recovery.
Brash left on site can:
- Protect woodland soil.
- Provide valuable habitat for insects, fungi and other wildlife.
- Support natural regeneration.
- Help reduce trampling in newly recovering areas.
Forestry works are heavily influenced by weather and ground conditions. It is important for us to protect woodland floors and ensure safe working conditions for our staff and contractors.
Periods of heavy rain, strong winds or particularly wet ground can delay forestry works. This can affect how quickly sites can recover.
Following forestry works, evidence of forestry activity will remain visible after the main forestry operations have been completed. This includes clearing stacks of timber, maintaining formal access routes, and monitoring woodland regeneration.
We understand that forestry operations look dramatic, particularly whilst work is underway. Our forestry work will only thin between 10-30% of trees in each compartment where work is taking place. Some parts of the woodland will look different after the works to help us to improve the quality of our woodland. Our woodland is managed using Continuous Cover approach. This means that tree cover is maintained across the woodland rather than removing large areas of trees at once.
This approach to woodland management helps us to:
- Maintain the woodland character that our visitors value.
- Protect woodland soils.
- Provide continuous habitat for wildlife.
- Support natural woodland regeneration.
- Ensure the woodland remains an attractive and welcoming place to visit.