The big managemenent issue at Ferry Wood is Rhododendron ponticum, the scourge of upland oakwoods on the west coast of Britain. There have been efforts to remove it from the wood for over 20 years and it still has a hold.
The main picture is of “the landing strip”, a long thin open area running along the spine of the ridge. There are no oaks here, only bracken. Efforts were made to remove it by spraying but it has come back, along with rhododendron seedlings, sitka spruce seedlings and lots of birch saplings, which are being severely held back by grazing animals: probably sheep and deer combined.
We have been clearing rhododendron seedlings from this area throughout the summer, along with other areas in the wood that have been cleared in the past, but which still contained seed: and some of this seed has successfully germinated.
The picture below has been cleared of flowering rhodies recently, but the bases have regenerated (see left of the photo). It is very difficult to eradicate!
bioregioning 