Parkland & Veteran Trees: Key objectives [see actions below]
- Raise awareness of the importance of parkland and veteran trees for biodiversity as well as for heritage and their place in the landscape.
- Review extent and assess condition of parkland habitat in Barnsley including surveys for selected sites..
- Collect and analyse records of populations and assemblages of wildlife species in parkland habitat across Barnsley.
- Propose additional historic parks and former parkland remnants for Local Wildlife Site designation.
- Identify parkland sites for improved conservation and work with owners to bring into conservation management and favourable condition.
- Complete a register of all veteran and notable trees in parklands and elsewhere in Barnsley and protect through TPOs.
- Encourage owners of land with veteran and notable trees to conserve them, retaining dead wood, even if untidy.
Roles:
Landowners and managers:
- follow best practice in managing parkland and wood pasture
- protect and conserve veteran trees, wherever they are.
Natural England: administers stewardship funding schemes
Historic England:give advice and provide grants for historic parklands.
Barnsley Council as planning authority:
- sets conditions in relevant planning applications to ensure that the biodiversity value of parklands and wood pasture is maintained and enhanced.
- issues Tree Preservation Orders and designates Conservation Areas which can protect historic parklands.
Voluntary groups and volunteers:
- help with parkland management and conservation;
- help with information about parklands and veteran trees and provide wildlife records to the Record Centre.
What has been done?
- Veteran tree surveys carried out at Stainborough, Wortley & Cannon Hall.
- Restoration of park landscapes carried out at Bretton Park and Stainborough Park.
- Veteran trees survey Cannon Hall 2016.
- Conservation of Cannon Hall parkland, Parks for People project BMBC 2017-21.
- …
Proposed actions
- Public campaign to register veteran trees. 2022-25
- Promotion of conservation of veteran trees
- Promotion of restoration and conservation of parkland and wood pasture.
- Establish and maintain inventories of parkland and wood pasture
- Analysis of records of wildlife species found in parkland and wood pasture
- LWS designation of more parkland sites and TPOs for veteran trees 2022-25
Marking progress
- No reduction in extent of parkland and wood pasture habitat
- Parklands and Wood Pasture in positive conservation management
- Veteran or notable trees identified
- Veteran or notable trees given protected status
- Veteran or notable trees managed and conserved.

Parkland & Wood-Pasture Actions