Hastings Borough Council will be coppicing mature seed-bearing sycamore trees in Brakey Bank during September.
The coppicing will start today Monday 12 September and the sycamore trees will be cut close to the base, removed from site and sold.
“Our Higher Level Stewardship grant requires us to reduce the number of mature sycamore trees in Brakey Bank. By removing trees that produce seed, we can promote a greater diversity of habitats and safeguard more sensitive habitats from sycamore seeds germinating” explained Cllr Warren Davies the councils lead member for environment.
“Coppicing is a traditional system of woodland management that allows cut trees to regrow with multiple stems. After a few years these thinner stems can be cut again and used for posts and other products. The money we get for the timber will be used to fund further management tasks.”
Cutting trees in this way opens up the woodland, allows more light in and encourages a greater diversity of woodland flora. The open areas provide valuable habitats for woodland birds and butterflies and Brakey Bank has one of the most spectacular displays of bluebells in the Nature Reserve. Reducing these mature trees will allow more bluebells to flourish and flower in spring.
Works will start today Monday 12 September and are expected to take a week to complete.