Category: Notices and Information

Forestry England coppice work in Darwell Wood

Forestry England are starting coppice work in September in Darwell Wood.  The details, from Forestry England, are below

I am writing to inform you of the coppice work that will be starting in September at Darwell and should run through until December.

Here’s a summary of what we are doing and what we are trying to achieve.

The coppice rotations are based on small coupes (< 2ha) being felled each year, using a ‘little and often’ system designed to create rotational open space which will benefit a number of species of butterfly and other invertebrates across the woodland. Birds which benefit include nightjar in the open stage, and once the natural regeneration matures to thicket stage, it will provide quality habitat for Schedule 41 species such as nightingale, turtle dove, cuckoo and willow warbler.

Brash will be cleared (raked and put into neat dead hedges or chipped and removed from site) to allow light to the forest floor and reduce the nutrient content encouraging the growth of wildflowers amongst the sapling stage natural regeneration.

Veteran trees and standing deadwood identified within the operational area will be retained for their conservation value. The ride management rotation will start to bring connectivity to the woodland which will be particularly beneficial for butterflies.

The areas selected for this year’s work have been prioritised as they are populated with dead or dying Ash as a result of Hymen scyphus Fraxinus (Ash dieback). It is important to remove the trees in the interest of safety as well as ensuring they still remain a marketable crop.

The intention is to stack the timber at roadside in small quantities – 30 m3 or 60m3. This will allow for greater competition in the market, enabling offers from buyers who may only be able to purchase in small quantities. Sales will take place as and when adequate quantities have been put to roadside.

Due to the site being Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland the approach to restocking will be natural regeneration.

In regard to safety. I have informed the Rights of Way team about the work and the footpaths likely to be affected. Warning signs will be at entrances to the site. Site users are asked to follow the safety instructions and to keep well clear of harvesting machinery.

If you would like any more information, please get in touch with jadie.baker@forestryengland.uk

Location Darwell Coppice 2021

Operation map Darwell coppice 2021

Potential waste collection disruption

Rother District Council have sent this notice to all residents signed up for their email alerts.

Dear Resident
In common with many other local authority areas across the UK, waste and recycling collections and street cleansing services in Rother are being affected by high levels of staff absence.
As the local Covid infection rate increases, Track and Trace instructions to isolate, combined with a general shortage of HGV drivers, means that collection services could soon be suspended for a period until the situation improves.
Several actions are being taken to maintain services, including early morning and late evening work, so residents are being asked to regularly check their local council website, register for information bulletins and look out for communications in local media regarding their local services.
We are asking residents to refrain from using the local bring sites as reduced staffing levels means they will not be emptied frequently; please use your household recycling collection or take recycling to the Heathfield, Pebsham or Mountfield Waste Recycling Sites.

Click on this link to sign up for email alerts from Rother District Council

 

High Weald Walking Festival

The High Weald AONB Partnership are running their Walking Festival from 11th-19th September this year.
They are running a booking system using Eventbrite – but all walks are fee.
Below are a few highlights to whet your appetite:

  • High Weald Dark Skies Walk – a leisurely walk to enjoy the stars across the High Weald with a Dark Skies story.
  • WealdWay 40th Anniversary Walk – a circular walk using the WealdWay and Tunbridge Well Circular, visiting the village of Spelhurst for lunch.
  • Full Steam ahead at Horsted Keynes – recapture the golden age of steam on this walk beside the Bluebell Railway and through fields and Woods.

Click on this link to see the full programme and more information

Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme

This opens in July 2021 and through the programme farmers and land managers can be supported to carry out projects that:

  • support nature recovery
  • mitigate the impacts of climate change
  • provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and cultural heritage
  • support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses

This is a programme of funding for one-off projects covering these areas of work, not an agri-environment scheme.

The programme is part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan.  It has been developed by Defra with the support of the AONB and National Park staff from across the country.

Click here to see full details on the Defra website