About

Coate Moor woods cover an area of 154.9 hectares of mixed coniferous and broadleafed woodland located on the northern fringe of the North York Moors National Park, approximately seven kilometres from Middlesbrough. Most of the forest lies on a gently sloping moor, with steeper areas at Ayton Bank and above Easby Wood.

The lease was acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1950, with further additions in the early 1960’s. 

Objectives

The overall long-term vision for Coate Moor woods is for its continued contribution as a productive forest. Felling will generally include both clear felling and Lower Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS).

Environmental objectives

Improve the resilience of the natural environment to pests, diseases and wildfires and realise the potential of these woods for nature and wildlife, to be measured by Natural England and FC systems.

Maintain the ecological, cultural and heritage value of these woods, to be measured by Historic England, NYMNP Authority and FC systems accordingly.

• PAWS restoration continues through appropriate management of regeneration of conifer species.
• As part of the Cleveland beat, Coate Moor provides an important contribution to the Districts PAWS restoration process with 12.35 ha (7.97% by area) designated as ancient woodland status. The block sits entirely within the North York Moors National Park. 

Where appropriate manage stands through LISS regeneration felling, utilising natural regeneration and enrichment planting, particularly across areas of PAWS and targeting the retention of high-value conifer crops. 

Social objectives

Maintain the woodlands contribution to the landscape character Cleveland Foothills Upland Fringe character area. To be measured by fixed-point photography.

Clearfell areas will be designed so that their size and scale are in keeping with the surrounding landscape. To be measured by fixed-point photography.

Economic objectives

All of our forests and woodlands are certified to the Forest Stewardship Council^®(FSC^®) licence code FSC-C123214 and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) licence code PEFC/16-40-1001 standards. We will maintain the land within our stewardship certified against the UK Woodland Assurance Standard, as independently assessed by annual independent surveillance audits.

Maximise and maintain a sustainable supply of timber from a diverse range of site-appropriate conifer and broadleaf species, to be measured by FC systems.

With 92% of the plantable area supporting productive high forest, Coate Moor remains an important block for its contribution to the districts timber producing capacity, particularly hardwoods. 

Continue the reduction of larch as a component within mixed stands, consider strip and group felling in pure stands.

Increase rhododendron control especially within or adjacent to larch crops.

What we’ll do

Coate Moor Forest Plan outlines management proposals including felling and restocking for 10 years from 2023 to 2033.

The planned areas of conifer, broadleaf and other habitats during the ten years to 2033 are summarised in the table below.

In addition to these defined operations, selective thinning and LISS associated regeneration will be carried out.

We will protect and, where appropriate, enhance all known sites of ecological importance and all sites, regardless of their designation, will receive the same level of care during the planning and execution of forest operations. The operation planning system will ensure they are recognised and the proper measures for their protection are in place before work begins.

The areas of LISS will be replanted to diversify species and age structure and to continue to provide a sustainable timber resource, whilst mindful of the projected impacts of climate change.

The development of future areas of broadleaf woodland will look to create a robust network of habitats linking conifer and broadleaf woodland where natural regeneration of suitable species will be the preferred method of establishment.

* Through this plan a large proportion of Coate Moor will be managed utilising LISS through Strip, Group and Irregular Shelterwood silvicultural systems.  During the plan period, it is proposed that areas of LISS where crops are over 25 years old will receive a silvicultural intervention (thinning/regeneration felling), as a result, the associated area will be regenerated through a combination of restocking and natural regeneration.