We recently completed a series of carefully planned felling works within a local nature reserve, focusing on several dead and declining Ash Trees positioned directly over a well-used public footpath.
Following assessment, removal was considered the most responsible option to manage the risk to visitors while still retaining as much ecological value as possible within the woodland setting.
Rather than a straightforward clearance operation, this project gave us an opportunity to trial a range of habitat creation techniques. Using winching systems, trees were intentionally pulled back into denser woodland areas to avoid the path and to position material where it could contribute to long-term biodiversity.
We experimented with controlled fell-to-wedge hang-ups to replicate natural failures, coronet cuts to mimic fractured limbs, and a mixture of structured timber stacks alongside deliberately “messy” habitat piles.
Sections of timber were also modified by boring cavities, introducing organic matter, and in some cases recapping the openings while leaving others exposed — all designed to encourage fungal colonisation, invertebrate use, and gradual habitat succession.
This work forms part of an ongoing review process. We’ll be revisiting the site over the next 1–3 years to monitor how these different approaches perform and to help shape future woodland management decisions.
Managing risk doesn’t have to mean removing ecological opportunity — with the right planning and techniques, safety-led works can still leave a lasting positive legacy for wildlife.
