12th January 2022
Dear Sir/ Madam
I am writing to you, to make you aware of the forest operations that will be taking place in April 2023 around Sling and Milkwall and continuing throughout the felling area on the map provided until September.
We have received a Plant Health Notice to fell the infected larch around Darkhills and Milkwall. The attached map shows the infected zone where we will be carrying out the forestry work. The plant health notice confirms an outbreak of the disease Phytophthora ramorum which effects larch trees along with a number of other species. It also gives us a deadline in which the effected trees must be felled by.
What this means for you
Darkhills car park and Scarr Bandstand car park will need weekday closing for safe extraction and timber removal. The use of Scarr Bandstand car park will also be disrupted whilst it is being used for timber stacking. Access to the properties at Woodlands View will always be maintained. Working will be kept strictly to seek days with access to both facilities restored for weekends.
There will be a significant change to the view once the larch trees have been removed. This does however provide opportunities to improve long term visual amenity around Scarr Bandstand and to improve conservation value at Gorsty Knoll. The restock tree species that we will be replanting with are a nice mix of native broadleaf such as Wild Cherry, Wild Service Tree and Oak as well as a mix of productive conifer such as Red Cedar, Japanese Cedar and Douglas Fir.
More information about Phytophthora Ramorum
The disease is not harmful to people or animals. When visiting the woodland please assist us in reducing the spread of the disease by keeping to marked paths, keep dogs on leads, do not take plant material or soil home with you and before visiting other woodlands, parks, gardens or garden centres, clean mud and leaves from boots, bikes, buggies, dogs and horses.
There is more information on our website www.forestryengland.uk/west-phytophthora-ramorum
We understand that this letter may raise some questions so we would like to invite you to a harvesting engagement walk and talk on Saturday February 4th 10:00- 11:00. Meet promptly at 10:00 in Scarr Bandstand car park. The Beat Forester who will be overseeing the operation and I will be present so you will have the opportunity to ask any questions and raise any concerns that you may have.
If you have any further questions and to confirm your attendance for the walk and talk please email westengland@forestryengland.uk or call 0300 067 4800.
Kind regards,
Tamsin Sagar
Community Ranger- West Dean