Information on Forest Operations at Wentwood Forest

Overview

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Felling operations to remove Mature Norway Spruce in the Northern part of the woodland in Wentwood, are due to begin in early September (2024). This area has been affected by fire in the past and the tree are now showing signs of disease and decay.

Later this year, thinning operations in the south will also resume, to help restore the forest back to Ancient Woodland.

The woodland is designated as a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) and these works are a step towards restoring these areas back to ancient woodlands.

 What work will take place?

• Areas of young trees within the woodland that have not been thinned previously, will have their initial thin, which will allow better access to crops while promoting stability within the coupe.
• Areas in the woodland where thinning has already occurred will be thinned further to create gaps in the tree canopy. This will help to increase light to the forest floor and increase diversity within the ground vegetation and promote natural regeneration.

Trees within the woodland that have been infected with Phytophthora ramorum (more commonly know as larch disease) will also be removed, to help us tackle the spread and prevent it from spreading further

Find out more about we tackle pests and diseases in our forests and woodlands

Map showing affected area at Wentwood  

Why do we thin trees?

Once an area of trees has matured to a certain size, they begin to compete with one another for nutrients, water, and light.

Thinning the trees out helps to reduce this competition and allows us to remove unhealthy trees and those that are not growing well.

This is one of the most beneficial activities that can be done for a growing forest and is a vital part of the forest cycle.

Find out more about how we look after our forests:  Lifecycle of our Forests and Woodlands 

Woodland access

It is likely that we will have to close off public access to some areas of the woodland while the work takes place. Live harvesting sites are incredibly dangerous, and this is necessary to protect the safety of our staff, our contractors, and visitors to the woodland.

Please adhere to closures and diversion notices when they are in place.

Watch our video about staying safe in our forests

What happens next

We will provide regular updates on this page about the work as the operations progress.

Read our frequently asked questions about our Forest Operations