FELLING of trees is to start next month to thin out an entire plantation on the side of an Exmoor hill between Dunster and Timberscombe.

The Forestry England wants to harvest timber from the northern side of Croydon Hill, which is less than a mile from Nutcombe Bottom, home to England’s tallest tree, a 206-foot Douglas fir.

Croydon Hill is a working woodland managed by Forestry England to produce sustainable timber for the UK market which sees regular forestry operations carried out.

A Forestry England spokesperson said: “We are thinning the trees across the northern part of the forest.

“This means removing selected trees for timber products.

“This gives the remaining trees more space and light to grow to their full potential.

“Thinning also lets more light on to the forest floor, which improves the habitat for ground flora and the wildlife it supports.

Community ranger Tara Maxamed said: “We expect to start working in the first week of September for approximately six months.

“We will be thinning the whole woodland, including two clear-fell sites where we will be removing all the trees.

“As part of our harvesting operations, we are working closely with our ecologists to improve the conservation value of the area.

“The operation will also ensure that the woodland is safe to visit for all visitors.”

Ms Maxamed said all public rights of way through the woods would be kept open, although some access routes might be temporarily restricted, and Forestry England asked that visitors for their own safety should follow any signs whether or not they could see or hear any work taking place.

The Forestry England spokesperson said: “Forestry work is very hazardous.

“A falling tree can weigh several tonnes and hit the ground at nearly 60 mph.

“If a harvesting machine chainsaw snaps, it can fly through the forest like a bullet.

“Harvesting trees is an important part of sustainable forest management.

“Before we start any forestry work, we carry out thorough ecological surveys to check for species such as birds, mammals, rodents, invertebrates, flora, and fungi.

“For instance, Haldon Forest is home to scarce species of raptor and butterfly.

“We consider these findings against complex factors including tree health, how the ground slopes, soil condition, and likely rainfall when planning work that will support our long-term management plan.

“There is not a single, perfect time of year for forestry work.”

Ms Maxamed said more information about the work could be found on the Forestry England website at ‘Forestry operations at Croydon Hill’.

She said: “We understand that residents may not be familiar with sustainable forest management and are keen to explain how this planned work supports the long-term health and resilience of the forest.

“Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or refer queries from local residents to [email protected].”

Thinning of the 515 acres of the Croydon Hill plantation last took place in 2020-21 when nearly 63,000 trees were taken out to produce nearly 10,000 tonnes of timber.