What we are doing
Contractors have completed tree work in a 0.6-hectare eastern area of the woodland this autumn. See compartment 2 on the plan below.
Coppicing the sweet chestnut and ash trees will help to maintain a healthy woodland.
We will be planting around 800 native trees next winter (2025 to 2026) to help the woodland to regenerate.
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Tarman's Copse coppice rotation plan
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Why we are doing this
The work, which has been arranged by our rangers, is part of a 30-year plan to rejuvenate this woodland.
Coppicing is a traditional woodland management practice where trees or shrubs are pruned to ground level, resulting in regeneration of new stems from the base. The coppice stools will quickly regrow next spring and summer.
Reintroducing a suitable age structure to the woodland will promote a more diverse habitat for wildlife. It will help wildflowers, such as bluebells and wood anemones to thrive.
It will also help to address the issue of Ash tree dieback, which has been recorded in the woodland.
We will use some of the harvested timber to make chestnut and rail fencing at various parks in the borough. This will reduce the need to buy timber from abroad and help us to reduce our carbon footprint.
Precautions we have taken:
- the work has been approved by a Forestry Commission felling licence
- the work will be undertaken outside of bird nesting season and every care has been taken to minimise disruption to wildlife
- we have shared information about these works in site notices and online