Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent which informed Members of the visitor access, risk management and conservation projects proposed in the Forest for the year 2014-15.

Members noted that increased visitor access work was proposed at St Johns and Woodford Green. Staff would also be working with the Wanstead Park Steering Group to increase management activity within the parkland. Officers also hoped to extend volunteer activity at Wanstead Park and Swaines Green to help meet increased work needs in these areas.

Significant work was to be carried out on the dam at Highams Park Lake during 2014 which the Operations team would be supporting. A new area of risk management activity to be undertaken this year was the survey of highway vegetation as part of a new Highways vegetation management programme. Tree safety would continue to be a large aspect of the Operations teams work in 2014.

Members noted that the completion of the Forest structures survey by City Surveyors would provide an opportunity to develop the Constraints Management System for the Forest during 2014 Habitat management supported by the Stewardship Grant from Natural England to the value of over £160,000 annually, plus the Single Payment Scheme funding, would continue on the same basis as the previous 6 years with work concentrated in the core areas of Hornbeam and Oak pollards, especially Bury Wood and Walthamstow Forest, and around the heaths. The grassland mowing programme would encompass more work on cutting of the wood-pasture glades and restoration areas.

Officers informed Members that the Keystone Tree programme would target 130 Beech and Oak pollards. Cattle grazing would be extended into new areas, such as Honey Lane Quarters, with the help of the new infrastructure including the invisible fence network.

Officers would be seeking to improve the value for money we achieve from the contract work we let each year. This would be done by preparing an Estates Maintenance Contract covering a comprehensive package of works and tendering it widely to appropriate contractors.

In response to a query regarding amenity areas, Officers informed Members that proposals to consider more areas as recreational and amenity areas were being investigated by Officers. This would ensure the grass was regularly cut in these areas. Officers also informed Members that the view into recreational and amenity areas was not overly obscured by grass and shrubbery.

Members congratulated Officers on a well written work programme and thanked Officers for their constant hard work.

Resolved: That Members approved the annual work programme.