Forestry England - Felling operation at Spicer woodland area, Haldon Forest Park - week commencing 11th December 2023

Forestry England will be thinning the trees across the Spicers woodland area. Where trees are growing closely together, removing selected ones gives the remaining trees more space to grow to their full potential. Thinning also allows more light to reach the forest floor, which improves the habitat for ground flora and the wildlife it supports. These changes improve the biodiversity of the forest which support its resilience against pests, diseases, and our changing climate.

On a small corner close to Exeter Racecourse, we will remove all the trees at once. These trees are suffering from Dothistroma needle blight (Dothistroma septosporum). This area is next to some of Haldon Forest’s special lowland heath habitat with populations of nightjar and adder, so we will keep this space open and help it return to lowland heath as well. Lowland heath is the key habitat of the Haldon Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This is marked red on the map.

The Public Right of Way along Spicers road will remain open throughout the operation, however it is the only haulage route in and out of the woodland. Due to this parking at the gateway on Old Exeter road will be prohibited weekdays and only permitted on weekends.

The felling team will require access 04:00-21:00 Monday-Friday.

As you can see from the map we will be working both sides of Spicers road Bridleway. We ask that users of the Public Right of Way, keep dogs under close control and that family members are in eyesight. Forestry works can be dangerous for both operators and anyone nearby follow all safety signage.

If machinery is seen near to Spicers road, wait until waved through. If a machine’s saw chain breaks, metal can shoot through the forest like a bullet and has been known to go through trees. Similarly please wait to be waved through if timber is being loaded onto or off a Forestry vehicle or timber lorry, some grabbers can pick up several tonnes in one go.

As usual the only right of access through Spicers is along the Public Right of Way, there is no right of access into the rest of the woodland.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Shaun at westengland@forestryengland.uk if you have any questions on any of the above or if you have any queries about any of our other woodlands.