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| 14. TREES AND WOODLANDS |
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Tree Preservation Orders
Throughout The District |
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POLICY TW1 |
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Where appropriate, the Council
will make a Tree Preservation Order on any individual tree, or group
of trees, in sound condition which makes a significant contribution
to the amenity and character of an area by reason of its position,
size, shape and/or foliage characteristics. |
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In general, the Council
will use the powers of the Town and Country Planning Act, to bring
Tree Preservation Orders into immediate effect. |
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The Council will make Tree
Preservation Orders on woodlands of high public amenity value where
other forms of protection are unlikely to be adequate. |
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This Policy applies throughout
the District. |
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Consent For Works To
Trees Covered By A Tree Preservation Order Throughout The District
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POLICY TW2 |
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The Council will assess
applications for consent to carry out works to trees covered by a
Tree Preservation Order, having regard to: |
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(i) |
the condition of the tree(s) |
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(ii) |
the relationship with any
adjoining buildings and/or highways, |
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and |
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(iii) |
the effect of the works
proposed on the public amenity value of the tree(s). |
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In any case where the Council
is not satisfied that the proposed works are justified, consent will
be refused. |
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Replanting with a named
species to be agreed in writing by the Council will generally be required
in the case of any tree for which felling consent is granted. |
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This Policy applies throughout
the District. |
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Resistance To Loss
Of Trees Covered By A Tree Preservation Order Throughout The District
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POLICY TW3 |
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Any development that would
result in the loss of a tree or trees subject to a Tree Preservation
Order, or which would have a significant adverse effect on the appearance,
or health, or stability of such a tree or trees, will not be permitted.
Trees of good quality, or landscape significance, or amenity value,
will be expected to be retained in good condition even where this
will restrict, or prevent, development. |
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This Policy applies throughout
the District. |
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The Use Of Conditions
Relating To Trees In Planning Permissions Throughout The District
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POLICY TW4 |
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As circumstances require,
the Council may impose conditions in any planning permissions granted,
requiring the retention of existing specified trees, their protection
during site clearance and construction work, and the planting and
retention of new trees. |
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In the case of new planting,
a condition may be imposed requiring that planting be carried out
in the first planting season after the development is completed. |
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This Policy applies throughout
the District. |
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Woodland Management
Throughout The District |
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POLICY TW5 |
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In managing its own woodlands
and when consulted by the Forestry Authority on grant schemes and
Felling Licence applications, the Council will be particularly concerned
that proposals should maintain and where appropriate enhance, the
amenity, nature conservation and landscape value of woodlands. |
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In the Chilterns Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Council will promote compliance with
the principles in "A Plan for the Chilterns - Woodlands Policy" which
are set out below. |
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In the remainder of the
District, the Council will have regard to the principles in "A Plan
for the Chilterns - Woodlands Policy". |
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The following are the principles
from the Woodlands Policy: |
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General Principles |
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a) |
All woodland should be
actively managed with the objective of perpetuating a landscape which
is broadleaved in character, with an emphasis on beech where appropriate.
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b) |
Heritage Woodlands should
be managed in such a way as to support a rich variety of wildlife.
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c) |
The woods should be managed
to increase timber production. |
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d) |
The total area of woodland
should be retained and, if possible, increased. |
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Where these principles are
mutually incompatible it will be necessary to strike a balance which
takes account of the circumstances applying to the specific woodland,
including its contribution to nature conservation. |
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Felling |
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a) |
Where clear felling is
necessary, the following guidelines w ill apply: |
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i) |
In the case of mature woods up to 3
hectares in area it should be possible to fell the wood in one operation.
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ii) |
In the case of woods over 3 hectares,
but not exceeding 8 hectares, no felling should exceed 50% of the
area or 3 hectares whichever is the greater in any one period of 10
years. |
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iii) |
In the case of woods over 8 hectares,
no felling in any wood should exceed a total of 25% of the area or
4 hectares whichever is the greater in any one period of 10 years.
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iv) |
In order to minimise the effect of
substantial felling it is desirable that no individual clear fell
should exceed 3 hectares in extent, and that it should be of a scale
in proportion to the landscape, be irregular and take advantage of
land form, and integrate visually with adjacent farmland patterns.
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b) |
Within heritage woodland,
estimated to be approximately one-quarter of the ancient woodland,
and including existing SSSI's and most of the visually-important woodlands,
there should be no individual felling coupe any larger than 0.6 ha.
More than one coupe can be felled at the same time, provided that
adequate separation is maintained between coupes. The size, phasing
and distribution of coupes being related to the size and interest
of the woodland. |
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Restocking |
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a) |
Woodland type and traditional
usage varies throughout the Chilterns. As detailed in the introduction
this ranges from hornbeam coppice to pure beech high forest. The choice
of species for restocking should not only reflect this traditional
pattern but should also allow for choices, including mixtures, which
reflect the forestry and conservation interests of diversity, and
have regard to the importance of particular species, such as beech,
in the landscape character of the Chilterns. |
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b) |
Where suitable, with the
use of individual tree shelters for broadleaves, stocking densities
can be reduced to 1100 trees per hectare, otherwise with transplants
2250 trees per hectare will be required. |
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c) |
Restocking with single
or mixed broadleaf species is preferred. However, where desired by
the owner for economic or silvicultural reasons, use of conifers in
mixture with broadleaf species will be acceptable provided the management
objective is to achieve a predominantly broadleaved woodland and the
project does not damage an important area for conservation of wildlife.
Where conifers are used in such mixtures they should be compatible
with the broadleaved trees in rate of growth on any given site, and
be restricted to not more than 50% by area at the time of restocking.
In these circumstances with transplants a stocking density of 2250
trees per hectare will be required of which at least 50% will be broadleaves
evenly distributed throughout the area. |
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d) |
Natural regeneration of
broadleaves is acceptable where occurring but may require gapping
up with planted trees in accordance with the Main Principles. |
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e) |
In the heritage woodlands
there should be a strong presumption in favour of natural regeneration,
with no planting for two seasons in order to give time for seedlings
to appear. If the density of seedlings is low, or if deer browsing
pressure is too high, it may be desirable to place tree shelters over
selected seedlings. After two seasons, if the stocking of seedlings
is inadequate, planting should be carried out in the gaps at a spacing
of about 3 metres. Most planting should be of oak, except on scarp
slopes, in order to greatly increase the proportion of this species
which is normally the best prospect for timber production and the
most valuable of all tree species from the wildlife point of view.
Additional benefits to wildlife can be obtained by planting cherry
and a small proportion of field maple and whitebeam. |
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This Policy applies throughout
the District. |
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Resistance To Loss
Of Woodland Throughout The District |
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POLICY TW6 |
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Planning permission for
development which results in the loss of woodland will be refused.
Woodland of good quality, or landscape significance, or amenity value
will be expected to be retained even where this w ill restrict or
prevent development. |
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This Policy applies throughout
the District. |
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