10/09/2024
Dear obsessed angry Rebel fan club (& associated false-assuming councillors)
You do NOT appear to know the function or jurisdiction of the Forestry Commission.
Forestry Commission (FC) is the governing body for all works done to trees in England, where the volume of trees involved reaches a certain threshold, they license works to ensure sustainable forestry & to ensure all removed trees are replanted. Any works done to trees must be applied through FC with or without a TPO. If there is a TPO (which in our case there is), FC negotiate the licence for tree works with District Council.
Our application was made in summer 2023 (last year), our previous case handler was negotiating TPO withdrawal of W1 & W2 but took extended leave due to health, our new case handler negotiated the terms of FC license with District Council.
TPO of W1 & W2 essentially made 10 Acres of our private farmland completely unusable & untouchable. We were advised to apply to FC to be able to manage these areas in a sustainable manner.
FC cannot license works to induvial trees subject to individual TPO (Oak trees such as T1, T2...etc), they can only license works to forest & woodland areas (W1 & W2)
FC do Not & cannot authorise complete deforestation of these areas, their primary function is to ensure trees are removed & replaced in a sustainable manner, ensure better resilience by increasing tree species diversity (better mix of species instead of few dominant overriding species), ensure better longevity by reducing dense overcrowding / thinning out trees susceptible to certain diseases...etc
The terms agreed were:
- to replant 100% of the area on which trees are thinned
- to maintain 70% of tree canopy at any given time, whilst trees are regrowing
- to protect all veteran trees & any other trees of interest
- to specifically target dense Hawthorn & Ash susceptible to dieback
- to gradually coppice in zones & allow coppice to regrow, before coppicing the next zone (to unlock & allow silvopastural use - these areas are presently too dense for grazing)
- to replant all removed trees with preferred mixed species in the below agreed specific ratio:
35% Apple
20% Pear
15% Cherry
10% Prunus
20% Other mixed native broadleaves
- to replant at a density of 1100 trees per hectare, to maintain & protect new planted trees & to replace any failed trees the following year.
- to compete licensed works as per agreed schedule, before 2034.
- for the FC case handler to regularly inspect & advise on works, to ensure compliance (FC license is a legally bound contract, whereby we must comply with the terms of license, undertake works as agreed or face penalty).
This application was applied for to tackle the thorny Hawthorn & Bramble mess (overgrown pasture) that the applied TPO made unmanageable, also to deal with Ash dieback disease which has spread prolifically through clusters of dense Ash trees. Imposition of TPO essentially stole from us, use of nearly half our private farmland, this license would have restored partial functionality & use (making it grazable & allowing us gradually replace parts of it with preferred trees of fruiting species).
We have not done anything further in relation to this application recently, we have been busy with seasonal work elsewhere; the terms of this license were requested & agreed last year, long before the recent, unplanned decision to sell, I imagine next owner may request some kind of revision to simply thin out or coppice for silvopasture, restock by coppice regrowth (thus not needing to replant & protect anything).
The FC license will be transferable to the next owner after sale; FC license unlocks potential for silvopasture grazing use on areas otherwise useless due to TPO imposition.
If STC would like more details or full details of the application, instead of fearmongering, scaring people & spreading false rumours, such can be provided.
[email protected]
