The creation of woodland or grassland can be challenging on some sites due to their past use. Brownfield sites (previously developed land), former mineral extraction or waste disposal sites, and even some greenfield sites can be affected by issues such as a lack of suitable soil resources, soil compaction, and poor drainage. These sites will often require some form of intervention before establishment can take place, and as such they can be referred to as ‘sites requiring intervention’. The challenges can be overcome with the right planning and preparation, allowing these sites to be brought back into beneficial use, providing opportunities for amenity space, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration, or timber production.
This Handbook provides guidance to those looking to create woodland or grassland on sites requiring intervention, including landowners, managers, planners, and designers. It provides a staged process to guide the knowledge gathering in the selection of sites, including how sites can be characterised, and it describes the types of site preparation that may be needed. It also provides advice on the key considerations for planning, designing, and delivering woodland and grassland on these sites.