TARECROFT Wood in Rivenhall is a documented ancient woodland, much enjoyed by local people for generations as it has public access.

It is owned by Essex County Council. A decade ago, ECC ordered heavy cutting and felling in part of the wood which resulted in many local people expressing concern.

As local councillors, we asked ECC to engage with the local community to prevent it happening again.

Despite assurances from ECC, it has now happened again with further heavy tree felling.

ECC misled the local community by putting up notices at the wood claiming that the recent work was “light coppicing”. It was no such thing.

Information obtained from ECC reveals that the work was carried out on the basis of cutting down 100 tonnes of timber from two compartments of the wood and appears to have been funded largely from sales of the trees as firewood.

Many large trees have been cut down, some over 100 years old.

The loss of the larger trees has left big gaps in the woodland canopy and, as we warned would happen, this has resulted in strong winds from winter storms getting into the wood which has caused further damage with trees falling and branches being torn off.

ECC claims the work will result in ecological benefits, but despite requests, has provided no evidence to justify that claim.

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A large amount of heavy timber and branches are now covering the woodland floor, preventing wildflowers growing.

Surviving pockets of ancient woodland play a vital ecological role in an otherwise largely-farmed landscape, made even more important because of the loss of trees from local development sites in recent years.

Essex County Council is promoting the Essex Forest Initiative, which aims to plant a million trees in the county by 2030 and nationally there is the Queen’s Green Canopy planting project which we are supporting locally.

These are good projects, but the trees will take decades to grow.

ECC should not be cutting down mature native trees when we need as many as possible to take up CO2 in the face of growing threats from climate change. Woodlands do need management.

But ancient woodlands such as Tarecoft are the ecological equivalent of listed buildings.

Their management should be sensitive, and they should not be damaged by a public authority which has a duty to care for them.

Tarecroft wood is much loved by local people. It will take many decades to recover, if it is allowed to.

James Abbott

District Councillor for Silver End and Cressing ward