“The current tree felling at Oway is part of Forestry England’s approved 10-year Forest Plan for the Exmoor Forest Estate covering the period 2021 – 2031. The plan follows the process and format for all similar plans for the Public Forest Estate throughout the country. It complies with current guidelines as laid out in the UK Forest Strategy. The Contractors, Euroforest, will be under an obligation to follow strict environmental conditions to avoid pollution, wildlife impacts and damage to any archaeology or other infrastructure. The areas due to be felled in the current 10-year plan extend to 20.55 ha, the felling at Oway is phase 1 but the precise timing of future phases will depend on the relative value of timber at the time. All the felled areas will be replanted, this is a legal condition placed on FE by the regulatory arm of the Forestry Commission.

 There will be areas retained for longer term retention or subject to thinning or selective felling. Most areas will be planted with a mixture of evergreen conifers including Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, noble fir, and Scots pine. Some smaller areas will be replanted with a mix of broadleaves. Overall, about 10% of the area will be left unplanted as open ground.”

The Parish Council also asked if ENPA were content with the plan.

“Our view is that the plan is approved by the Forestry Commission in the same way that any forestry activity must be and it follows all current National guidelines and standards of good practice. Productive woods and forests have been part of the landscape for many decades, and we recognise the need for a sustainable domestic supply of timber for many different needs. Managed forests sequester carbon, provide good wildlife habits, create spaces for recreation, provide jobs and services and support the local economy. The current Forest Plan recognises the benefits of low impact silvicultural systems, and we fully support this. We prefer to see a move away from larger, regular shaped clear-fells to smaller, irregular units restocked or regenerated with a variety of species such that over time the forest develops a more irregular varied structure, but we do understand that this isn’t always possible.”

The Parish Council are also working with the EXNP  to improve the way Forest England give notice, to the local farmers and the public, of the work they have planned. To also advise on the Environmental benefits of what they are doing.