SWL PAWS And ASNW Assessment Form Version 1

• Audit Title

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

Site Level Information

• Site Type From GIS and Ancient Woodland Layer

  ASNW

  PAWS

  LEPO

  Other Ancient Wood

• The best opportunities to enhance biodiversity should be used to fulfil the 15% requirement in UKWAS.

• Biodiversity Opportunity

  Only Good Opportunity on Property

  One of Two or Three Opportunities

  One of Several Opportunities

  One of Many Opportunities

• Other Site Information (free text)

• Area

• Larger sites may need to be be stratified into relatively homogeneous areas. Add additional strata as required. Sketch strata boundaries onto a map for later reference.

• STRATA

STRATUM

Strata Level information

• The site connections to other areas of biodiversity and how the site sits in the wider habitat is important
  Fully Surrounded - the area is fully surrounded by other areas key to biodiversity.
  Multiple Connections - the area forms a key link between several other areas key to biodiversity.
  Connected Through - the site forms a link between two otherwise disconnected areas of biodiversity.
  Single Connection - the site is adjacent to another area of biodiversity but does not form a link.
  Locally Disconnected - there are other sites important to biodiversity locally but the site is not directly connected to them.
  Isolated - there are no other biodiversity sites locally.
  
  

• Site Connectivity

  Select Fully Surrounded Multiple Connections Through Connection Single Connection Locally Disconnected Isolated

  • Fully Surrounded
  • Multiple Connections
  • Through Connection
  • Single Connection
  • Locally Disconnected
  • Isolated

• Consider the Site and Crop Stability

• Site Stability

  Stable HC 3 or Less

  Moderate HC 4

  Unstable HC 5 or More

• Crop Stage

  5 Years or Less to Harvest

  5 to 10 Years to Harvest

  10 to 15 Years to Harvest

  More Than 15 Years to Harvest

• Windblow

  No windblow

  Occasional Tree

  Small Pockets

  Onset of Full Windblow

  Severe Damage

• Brief Stratum description

1. Veteran Trees

• Veteran Trees. In PAWS these are those trees that probably significantly pre-date the crop.
  Abundant >25 trees per ha
  Frequent >5 trees per ha
  Infrequent <5 trees per ha
  Rare <1 tree per ha
  Absent no trees present on site
  

• Veteran Trees

  Abundant

  Frequent

  Infrequent

  Rare

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

2. Non Veteran Native Trees

• In PAWS these would be Native trees that probably grew up with the current crop or since it was planted.
  Abundant >25 trees per ha
  Frequent >5 trees per ha
  Infrequent <5 trees per ha
  Rare <1 tree per ha
  Absent no trees present on site

• Non Veteran Native Trees<br><br>

  Abundant

  Frequent

  Infrequent

  Rare

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

3. Existing Regeneration of Native Trees

• Abundant - regeneration spread widely throughout area
  Frequent - patches of regeneration throughout area
  Infrequent - occasional scattered patches of regeneration or individual small trees
  Rare - occasional regenerating tree
  Absent - no regeneration

• Existing Regeneration of Native Trees<br>

  Abundant

  Frequent

  Infrequent

  Rare

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

• If regeneration is absent add reason

Reason

• Reason for lack of regeneration if absent.

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

4. Deadwood

• Significant standing and fallen deadwood would be larger than 20cm in diameter
  Abundant >25 dead trees or significant limbs
  Frequent >5 dead trees or significant limbs per ha
  Infrequent <5 dead trees or significant limbs per ha
  Rare - very occasional limb or dead tree
  Absent - no deadwood present

• Deadwood<br>

  Abundant

  Frequent

  Infrequent

  Rare

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

5. Vegetation on Rock Outcrops and in Gaps

• Thinking in particular about native woodland indicator species
  Abundant - native woodland indicator species are found throughout the area on crags and in gaps in the canopy.
  Frequent - less common but still well spread throughout the area.
  Infrequent - there are few crags or gaps in the canopy but those that exist do hold native woodland indicator species.
  Rare - there are very occasional examples of native woodland indicator species.
  Absent - there is no evidence of native woodland indicator species anywhere within the area.

• Vegetation on Rock Outcrops and in Gaps

  Abundant

  Frequent

  Infrequent

  Rare

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

6. Vegetation in Riparian Zones

• Thinking in particular about native woodland indicator species
  Abundant - native woodland indicator species are found throughout the riparian zones
  Frequent - less common but still well spread throughout the riparian zones
  Infrequent - there are few riparian zones but those that exist do hold native woodland indicator species.
  Rare - there are very occasional examples of native woodland indicator species in riparian zones.
  Absent - there is no evidence of native woodland indicator species anywhere within the riparian zones.

• Vegetation in Riparian Zones

  Abundant

  Frequent

  Infrequent

  Rare

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

7. Vegetation Under the Canopy

• Thinking in particular about native woodland indicator species
  Abundant - native woodland indicator species are found throughout the area under the canopy
  Frequent - less common but still well spread throughout the area.
  Infrequent - there are a few patches under the canopy that hold examples of native woodland indicator species.
  Rare - there are very occasional examples of native woodland indicator species under the canopy
  Absent - there is no evidence of native woodland indicator species anywhere within the area.

• Vegetation Under the Canopy

  Abundant

  Frequent

  Infrequent

  Rare

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

8. Rare Species

• Include both Flora and Fauna. Also consider nesting and breeding sites for rare species.
  Key site - known breeding or refuge site for particularly rare or endangered species. Eg white tailed eagle, capercaillie. Include all designated sites here.
  Important Site - site with 'second level' protected species. Eg red squirrel, otter, badger
  Local interest Site - site with local interest or rarity
  Expansion site - site with the potential to allow the expansion of local populations from adjacent areas or potential habitat link.
  Absent - no rare species present or in the locality

• Rare Species

  Key Site

  Important Site

  Local Interest Site

  Expansion Site

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

9. Archaeology and Cultural Significance

• Archaeology and Cultural Significance

  Scheduled Site

  Unscheduled but Important Site

  Local Interest Site

  Agricultural Legacy (dykes, sheep fanks etc) only

  None Present

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

10. Amenity, Landscape and Public Access

• Consider the area in terms of its overall Amenity, Landscape and Public Access Importance.

• Amenity, Landscape and Public Access Significance

  Key Site

  Important Site

  Local Interest Site

  Expansion Site

  Absent

• Threat Status

  Critical (loss within 5 years)

  Threatened (loss within 10 years)

  Secure (for at least 10 years)

• Nature of Threat (tick all that apply)

  Select Shading by Planted Crop Non-native Invasive Species Bracken, Strong Grasses etc Deer Browsing Regeneration of Conifer Trees Other (specify in comments below) Windblow in Overstory Crop

  • Shading by Planted Crop
  • Non-native Invasive Species
  • Bracken, Strong Grasses etc
  • Deer Browsing
  • Regeneration of Conifer Trees
  • Other (specify in comments below)
  • Windblow in Overstory Crop

• Comments

• Photograph

  Media

• Summary Comments and Information

• Suggested Management (tick all that apply)

  Select Natural Reserve Long Term Retention Low Impact Silviculture Thinning Haloing of Veterans and Larger Native Trees Widen Riparian Zones Control Invasive Non-natives Control Regeneration of Current Crop Trees Improve Deer Control Deer Fence Clearfell at Onset of Windthrow Restock with Native Bl or SP Restock with Conifer Restock with Mixed Con/Bl Species

  • Natural Reserve
  • Long Term Retention
  • Low Impact Silviculture
  • Thinning
  • Haloing of Veterans and Larger Native Trees
  • Widen Riparian Zones
  • Control Invasive Non-natives
  • Control Regeneration of Current Crop Trees
  • Improve Deer Control
  • Deer Fence
  • Clearfell at Onset of Windthrow
  • Restock with Native Bl or SP
  • Restock with Conifer
  • Restock with Mixed Con/Bl Species