Gateshead is a fantastic place to visit woodlands at any time of the year. This includes both ancient woodlands and those newly planted.
The Council is currently involved in a number of projects across the Borough with funding from the Forestry Commission to improve ancient woodlands for people and wildlife.
The Council is also working in local communities and schools carrying out tree, hedge and orchard planting to improve the urban and rural environment.
If you are a school, community group or landowner that would like to take part in tree planting please contact Clare Ross at the Natural Environment Team at clareross@gateshead.gov.uk|
Tree Felling at Ousbrough Wood Winter 2011/12
Major tree felling works are currently taking place at Ousbrough Wood.
The Wood which has been owned and managed by the Council since 1995, is an Ancient Woodland Site, part of which was planted with non-native softwood trees such as Corsican Pine, Larch, Western Hemlock and Douglas Fir in the 1960s.
As part of the Council’s commitment to wildlife and biodiversity, felling works are being carried out to restore the Wood back to a more natural state. Funding for this work is being provided by the Forestry Commission.
Felling work is involving the removal of Pines and Larch from over half of the Wood to allow the natural regrowth of native tree species and to revive the native flowers which have been shaded out for many years by the non-native softwood trees.
While undertaking the works to fell and extract the timber from the wood there will be a certain amount of disruption. This will involve the temporary closure of areas of the wood for public safety, including permissive paths, but no public rights of way. Once the extraction works are complete the permissive paths will be restored and re-opened again.
For your own safety please take notice of any path closure notices on site during felling AND DO NOT USE THE CLOSED PATHS! The main bridleway through the Wood will remain open through out the works but users, especially horse-riders, please be advised that machinery may be being operated in proximity to the bridleway.
Similar works will also be taking place at the Council’s Wood at Thornley Woods.