MANAGING PUBLIC ACCESS FOR WILDLIFE IN WOODLANDS ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR BEST PRACTICE

摘要

The demand for recreation and leisure activities places considerable demands upon the British countryside, and particularly in woodlands and forests. By virtue of their unique environment, woodlands attracted 252 million day visits during 2002-3 in Great Britain (Countryside Agency, 2004a). Walking and rambling accounted for 32% of all day visits to the countryside during 2002/3, and taking part in a sports activity accounted for approximately 28 million of all day visits (Countryside Agency, 2004a).This rapid growth has resulted in extra public pressure on the countryside and coincides with an increasing awareness of the multiple uses of forest landscapes. The amenity use of woods is now as high on the agenda for a woodland manager as commercial,game and wildlife conservation have ever been, and is actively promoted by many high profile organisations and mandates in a strive to promote woodlands as accessible natural greenspace.