Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Conservation Action Plan

Photograph 4 Cold, exposed woodland edge next to Gill Royd Lane at Midhope Reservoir
Underbank Reservoir has more amenity/recreational value than the other two reservoirs on
the Little Don water course, particularly Midhope. The woodland edge on the north and
south sides of the A616 is predominantly broadleaved woodland and much of it has been
identified for long term retention, including all of the woodland on the north side of the
A616. Parts of this woodland are dominated by beech, but with a reasonable range of age
classes. There are some very dark areas where the beech has been unmanaged. In these
areas some continuous cover woodland management in the form of small group felling,
limited selective thinning and creation of standing deadwood would help to introduce some
young trees and improve the shrub and field layers. A similar approach within the narrow
compartments on the southern side of the A616 in the broadleaved compartments (135a3
and 135a6) would have similar benefits. Some large beech have been felled or have their
crowns removed recently within 135a3 creating some large gaps in the canopy creating
opportunities for establishment of a variety of broadleaved trees and shrubs. Natural
regeneration is likely to establish but planting would ensure the desired range of species ws
established.
Photograph 5. Gap in canopy of compartment 135a3 created by removing the crown from a
mature beech.
On the south side of Underbank there are a number of compartments with single and mixed
conifer species dominating with only a small element of broadleaves. There are however
occasional large individual broadleaved trees throughout. Conversion of some of the conifer
planting to mixed broadleaves whilst retaining an element of the conifer would increase the
species diversity of the area as well as improving biodiversity. Suggested compartments for
conversion are 136a12, 136a13, 136a14, and 136a15. The broadleaved compartment
(136a11) will act as a natural break for felling break. Also, the large, mature individual
broadleaved trees are growing in these compartments and will benefit.
Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership.
The Woodland Heart. Assessment of the woodlands Page 22 of 58