Woodland on Sutton Walls – 2026 Update
In early 2024, the Sutton Walls Conservation Group began looking at ways in which we might be able to improve the sustainability of the woodland on the site, and in Spring 2024 we decided to embark on the preparation of a “Woodland Management Plan” (WMP).
A WMP is a formal public document whose purpose is to create a long-term (10 year) sustainable plan promoting best practice in woodland management and covering eight elements (biodiversity, climate change, historic, environment, landscape, people, soil, and water) and must comply with the government’s “UK Forestry Standard” and be approved by the Forestry Commission.
What’s been happening since then?
In November 2024 we submitted a first draft of the WMP to the Forestry Commission. We also went out to consultation on our draft aims with Herefordshire Council, the 2 local Parish Councils, the land’s owners, and neighbouring farmers. These aims are:
1.To promote woodland diversity consistent with the history and location of the site, while preserving the integrity of the Scheduled Monument and its associated archaeology.
2.To proactively manage diseased and damaged trees in a safe and responsible manner.
3.To maintain and enhance responsible public access to the site.
4.To encourage community engagement with the management of the woodland.
5.To optimise management of those areas of the site’s woodland that are either adjacent to - or may encroach onto (either now or in the future) - areas of formerly contaminated land.
•In parallel with this, we had continued discussions with the Forestry Commission about our draft proposals, which led to the Group appointing an Institute of Chartered Foresters’ Registered Consultant to provide us with expert support and advice. The consultation closed in January 2025.
•Over the following months we remained in dialogue with both the Forestry Commission and Historic England, culminating in a joint site visit to Sutton Walls in late July 2025 where detailed discussions were held between the parties on the opportunities and challenges presented by the site.
•Follow up discussions between the Forestry Commission and Historic England were held to determine the final shape of the plan.
The Woodland Management Plan has now been approved by the Forestry Commission and is live from 25th March 2026 until 4th April 2036.
Next Steps:
•We have applied for a grant from the Rural Payments Agency to pay for the production of the plan.•We hope to be making an application for Countryside Stewardship funding to support the future delivery of the plan.
•We will need to produce an annual detailed programme of works to deliver the Plan over 10 years, including Felling and Restocking and Species management.
•We will need to appoint advisors to support production of the detailed programme and to oversee its delivery.
•We hope to start implementing the WMP before the end of 2026.
Further details and a copy of the WMP will be found on our website www.suttonwalls.co.ukIf you have any queries or observations about the WMP then please do contact us at: suttonwallscg@gmail.com
Sutton Walls Conservation Group May 2026
Woodland Management Plan
While the clear primary purpose of the SWCG is the preservation and promotion of the archaeology and history of the site, the location also serves an important ecological purpose given the diverse nature of the local flora and fauna, combined with good public access.
To this end SWCG has been looking at different ways in which we might be able to preserve and improve the diversity and sustainability of the ecology of the site, a very important part of which is the woodland there, and so in Spring 2024 we have decided to embark on the preparation of something called a “Woodland Management Plan” (WMP).
A WMP is a formal document whose purpose is to create a long-term (10 year) sustainable plan promoting best practice in woodland management and covering eight elements (biodiversity, climate change, historic, environment, landscape, people, soil, and water) and must comply with the government’s “UK Forestry Standard” and be approved by the Forestry Commission.
We are right at the very start of this process, and as we develop the draft plan we will be consulting with the local Parish Councils, our neighbours, and Historic England to both keep them informed and consider any views, and we will also publish further information on our website as the plan evolves.
You can find out more about WMPs at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/create-a-woodland-management-plan, and if you have any queries or observations about this then please do contact us at: suttonwallscg@gmail.com
Significant News.
Sutton Walls Conservation Group has taken a big step forward in securing the wonderful Iron Age hillfort's future for generations to come.
The group, which was established in 2017, responded to a call from Historic England to help manage the site as it was on their 'at risk' register. Working with the Gwynne family, who have owned the site for several generations, the lease has now been signed, giving the SWCG the responsibility as tenants to take on the task of managing the site in terms of its outstanding value for archaeology, nature, farming and people.
The next step will be to instigate a Conservation Management Plan, which will inform and guide the way forward and could include a range of actions such as providing interpretation boards, coppicing, opening up viewpoints and stabilising the hillfort's ramparts. The public footpath, which circumnavigates the hillfort and is excellently maintained, will continue to provide access to the site and a great opportunity for walkers. Find out more by picking up a Heritage Walking Trail map from the Golden Cross pub or visit www.suttonwalls.co.uk . Keep an eye out for more news and opportunities to get involved in looking after, and making the most of this amazing site, right on our doorstep!
Visitors to Sutton Walls should please keep to the public footpaths at all times.
Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register 2019, Case Study, Sutton Walls Camp.
Read full case study text of this important document by clicking the pdf icon.
Above text and photograph are copyright of Historic England 2019