Agenda item

Epping Forest Operations Programme for 2018/19

Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.

Minutes:

Members received a summary of progress on the Epping Forest Operations Programme for 2018/19. Officers outlined the conservation, visitor access and risk management projects proposed in the Forest for the year 2018/19. It was noted that the biggest part of the project would be the HLS wood-pasture restoration.

 

A Member queried how skylark conservation was progressing considering the problems being incurred at Wimbledon Common. The Head of Conservation, Landscape & Heritage advised that there had been difficulties maintaining numbers of breeding pairs and he was very grateful for the work of volunteers who were continuing to monitor the local skylark population. It was noted that an in-depth survey was being carried out for the first time since 2015 in an attempt to clarify issues affecting the population.

 

It was queried whether the City Corporation had been liaising with the relevant Local Authority regarding the key crossing point at Highams Park following the meeting on site as there were suggestions that the Local Authority had funds to put towards the project but were awaiting feedback from the City Corporation. The Head of Conservation, Landscape & Heritage advised that discussions regarding clearing some of the Forest adjacent to the crossing had taken place and that further discussions would continue.

 

Members were concerned about the phytophthora ramorum disease outbreak which had now been found in Sweet Chestnut in the same location as the original outbreak. The Head of Conservation explained that the further outbreaks were disappointing and he expected further works to remove the remaining infected areas to take place shortly.

 

A Member noted that there were a number of both short and long-term plans governing the management of the Forest. He felt that Members required clarification of what the long-term plans were in order to understand the full picture. The Superintendent advised that a 30-page Management Plan summary bringing everything together was in final draft and would be coming to Members in the Spring 2018.

 

It was noted that a set management plan was overdue and Members requested more information on when this was coming and how it would be circulated. The Head of Operations advised that there was a big agenda to address and that the strategy would set out a 30-year timeframe giving an overall sense of direction alongside a three-year plan to deal with urgent matters.

 

RESOLVED

 

·         that Members approved the annual work programme as summarised in the main report; 

·         that coloured versions of any maps would be circulated (or included in agendas) and would be put up on screen at meetings going forward.

 

Supporting documents: