Countryside Team Ensures No Wood is Wasted During Storm Clearance

Stormy weather causes trees to inevitably fall across various sites in East Devon. In response, the Countryside team act promptly to ensure public safety, maintaining public access while making sustainable use of the fallen wood.
At Holyford Woods Local Nature Reserve, an ecologically rich semi-ancient woodland, the team only remove debris which is posing a hazard or obstructing pathways, allowing natural regeneration to take its course. Dead wood plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, serving as a food source for detritivores like woodlice and various beetle larvae, fostering fungi growth, and providing habitat for plants such as mosses, lichens and ferns.
Fallen trees and branches that are cleared are repurposed for a variety of projects and uses. This includes producing eco-friendly charcoal, which is available for purchase (from Colyford Post Office, Dart’s Farm and the Grazing Cow nr Honiton), firewood for heating the on-site office at Seaton Wetlands, and providing material for the popular spoon carving workshops, where participants can learn the traditional craft.
This approach ensures that no wood is wasted while supporting both conservation efforts and community engagement.
With storm Eowyn bringing heavy rain and strong winds recently, the team have again been ensuring Countryside sites are safe for visitors.