Whitestone forest operations

Overview

Click to read this page in Welsh

What work will take place?

Forest operations in Whitestone, Wye Valley, are due to begin in Autumn 2025 and will take about six months to complete.

We're felling larch trees to comply with a Statutory Plant Health Notice issued on the trees within the woodland. The trees are infected with Phytophthora ramorum, more commonly known as larch disease.

While this is taking place, we're taking the opportunity to thin the conifer crops within the woodland.

Safety
During the work, please follow all signage and safety instructions and be aware of timber wagon movements on forest roads.

Find out more about how to visit our forests safely.

Work updates
Updates on the work will be posted here - please check back soon.

Map showing affected area

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 helps to reduce this competition and allows us to remove unhealthy trees and those that are not growing well. It also encourages natural regeneration of native species and helps restore our ancient woodlands.

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 

What is Phytophthora ramorum?

Phytophthora ramorum is a fungus-like disease which can cause extensive damage or kill a wide range of trees and other plants.

Larch trees are the primary host for the disease in the UK, which is why it's commonly referred to as larch disease. Larch disease spreads through airborne spores from tree to tree. It poses no threat to human or animal health. 

Whilst we cannot stop the spread of larch disease, we can take action to slow it down.

Find out more about our approach to tackling larch disease and Ash Dieback

Read our Frequently Asked Questions