Forestry England will soon be working in East Hill Strips & Pin Hill, where they will be clear felling an area of larch trees and thinning young trees in other areas. Pin Hill & parts of East Hill Strips will be closed to the public during this work which will last approximately 6 weeks from 23rd April 2024.
Forestry England are legally required to carry out this work because areas of the forest are suffering from Phytophthora ramorum, a destructive tree disease which is affecting many of the nation’s larch trees. Phytophthora ramorum is harmless to people and animals, but highly infectious and harmful to trees and some other plant species.
Our climate is changing, bringing new threats to our trees, and we need to build resilience within our forests. With this in mind, plans are in hand to restock the clear-felled area with a diverse range of tree species that will thrive in the climate conditions we expect in 2050 and beyond. The full forest plan for East Hill and Pin Hill can be read online at https://www.forestryengland.uk/forest-planning/east-devon-forest-plan
Chris Goode, Community Ranger, East Devon, Forestry England
