4 days ago
Forestry England 'risking devastating wildfires' by not removing dead wood
Forestry England has been accused of creating potential bonfires that could cause "devastating" blazes in the New Forest.
As Hampshire swelters in the fourth heatwave of the summer, the organisation has been criticised for not removing fallen timber from the forest floor.
The issue was raised at the Court of Verderers by one of the commoners whose free-roaming animals graze the landscape.
Lucie Rowe said the importance of preserving the Forest's special ecology and habitats meant some dead wood should be left.
But she warned that the current practice of seemingly leaving everything in place was effectively creating large bonfires, which could prove "absolutely disastrous".
Signs warning about the danger of wildfires appear in the New Forest every summer (Image: Newsquest)
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"I think we all understand that climate change is happening. The extreme weather we now experience means we have stronger winds and higher temperatures than ever before.
"This spring gave us a particularly dry season and by early May I was walking in trainers where ordinarily I should have needed wellies.
"The leaves on the forest floor crunched under foot, the fern hadn't started to grow, and last year's bracken was tinder try. All very much a fire hazard.
Signs warning about the danger of wildfires appear in the New Forest every summer (Image: Forestry England)
"I believe there could be spontaneous combustion on some of the heaths. Once the fire has spread into the woods, once that has got a lick on these bonfires of dead and dry timber, the situation would be a nightmare."
Ms Rowe urged Forestry England to review its policy, adding: "The cost of a devastating fire is a price none of us want to pay."
But a Forestry England spokesperson told the Daily Echo: "There is a well-established approach to dead wood in the ancient woodlands of the New Forest, agreed with Natural England, the Verderers and other forest organisations.
"This rotting and decomposing wood it is one of the features that makes the New Forest so biodiverse.
"It boosts habitats for fungi and many different species of wildlife. This is why much of this is left in place and only removed where there are specific issues such as blocking paths or health and safety.
'Removing large amounts of fallen deadwood across these incredibly sensitive ancient woodlands would risk serious ground disturbance and root compaction on the surrounding ancient and veteran trees."
