Project to go native is a tree-mendous idea

Dovestone conifers to be replaced by oak, birch and alder
FORESTRY work is set to transform the appearance of one of Oldham’s premier beauty spots.

United Utilities plans to replace 50 hectares of conifers around Dovestone and Yeoman Hey reservoirs in Greenfield with native trees such as oak, birch, alder, hazel, rowan, cherry, hawthorn, crab-apple, holly, aspen and willow.

Felling has already begun, though full replacement will continue over the next 20 years or so.

“Conifer plantations were developed widely across the UK after the First World War in a drive for timber production,” explained a United Utilities spokeswoman. “But today’s mechanised extraction methods don’t work well on steeply-sloping land like Dovestone, so it isn’t really commercially viable.

“Woodland is still the friend of water quality in the reservoir — it’s important for stabilising the reservoir edges and helping to prevent soil washing into the water. But it has to be the right kind of woodland. Our goal now is to promote native woodland, which is much better for wildlife.”

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which manages the day-to-day running of the Dovestone catchment land, has planted two small areas of native trees, one close to Chew Brook, the other near the Holmfirth road below Binn Green car park.

The RSPB is also in the third year of a five-year project to convert younger plantation woodland around Dovestone into more natural woodland, by thinning the trees and creating glades. Broad-leaf trees will also be planted. Both these schemes are supported by the Forestry Commission.

“Our long-term aim is for a more diverse habitat on the moorland edges around Dovestone, while restoring the blanket bog across the moorland plateaux,” said Dave Ohara, RSPB Dovestone site manager.

“A diverse mixture of both species and woodland structure — with dense thickets, open wood and glades — will support a whole range of threatened wildlife, and be more attractive to visitors.”

“Although woodlands are by nature long-term projects it doesn’t always take long for positive change.”