Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Conservation and Trees Manager introduced an update report on tree safety management at the North London Open Spaces Division. In response to a question from Colin Gregory, he replied that there were limited access implications arising from any outbreak of Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) given that areas of current outbreaks tended to be municipal parks where the OPM could be easily monitored. However, he noted that if OPM were to appear within heavily wooded areas such as Highgate Wood it would be necessary to impose some access restrictions for public safety. He added that central government funding for the treatment and management of the outbreak was continuing but was becoming increasingly prioritised as the problem grew.