Agenda item

Lee George, Open Spaces Officer:

a.    presented a report to provide advice relating to the proposed management of priority heathland habitat located within Swanholme Lakes SSSI, by the implementation of limited targeted deforestation and thinning of specified areas

b.    advised that Swanholme Lakes was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1985 and became a Local Nature Reserve in 1991

c.    described the location of Swanholme Lakes Nature Reserve which fell within the City Boundary adjacent to Hartsholme Country Park, owned by the City Council and subject to Tree Preservation Order, Doddington Road No1 – Hartsholme Wood

d.    highlighted that the site was open to public access and comprised of a variety of habitats including woodland, heathland, and several lakes, which were originally pits formed during the extraction of sand and gravel in the last century

e.    stated that tree species forming the woodlands were predominantly Birch, Willow, Pine, Alder, and Oak; the site supported wet and dry heathland, both important habitats supporting a variety of wildlife and the lakes provided suitable conditions for the benefit of several uncommon aquatic species of flora and fauna

f.     reported that presently, pioneer species, such as Birch and Willow were encroaching onto the heathland sites, additionally other species such as Pine and Alder were having detrimental effects on the heathland habitat located in the vicinity of the area known as Acid Pools, which, if left unmanaged would negatively affect the underlying nature of the heathland habitat, leading to the loss of mosses lichens and other desirable heathland species.

g.    added that trees growing adjacent to the lakeside banks were currently producing significant shading, minimising the habitat potential of the marginal zones

h.    advised that lakeside trees also influenced the level of eutrophication which occured within individual water bodies due to the shedding of leaves, the deposition of leaves could also have the effect of altering the water chemistry of individual lakes, which in turn could adversely affect the ability of rare plants and marginal species to utilise an otherwise suitable niche

i.      requested permission to selectively fell, coppice and prune some of the Birch, Willow, Alder, Pine and Oak encroaching onto the existing heathland or in close proximity to the lakeside edges for the benefit of the area as detailed at paragraph 3.2 of the officer’s report

j.      clarified that the existence of the Tree Preservation Order prevented any unconsented tree works being undertaken without the consent of the local authority, and was also controlled via the Forestry Commission; in this case as the proposed tree removal would produce more than 5 cubic metres of timber per calendar quarter, the City Council had a legal obligation to apply to the Forestry Commission for a felling licence to undertake its planned works within the Nature Reserve

k.    stated that as the site in question also had SSSI designation the City Council had submitted a Supplementary Notice of Operations (SNO) to the Forestry Commission, this included detailed information on the protective measures we would utilise to protect the SSSI interest while tree felling operations were undertaken, and enabled Natural England to decide whether to give its SSSI consent to the tree felling work

l.      advised that the purpose of a Felling Licence was to ensure that there was no uncontrolled loss of tree cover within designated areas, and if granted would negate the requirement of the City Council to apply for tree work via the usual Tree Preservation Order route.

Members commended officers on a well written report explaining in detail why the trees needed to be felled. The Open Spaces Officer agreed to pass these comments back to the Arboricultural Officer.

Members asked whether consultation notices were circulated in the area prior to works commencing?

Lee George, Open Spaces Officer advised that notices were put up in the area of the proposed tree felling works. There was a well-structured social media team to assist with communication through the consultation process, and via the planning portal.

Members asked whether some of the Swanholme Lakes Nature Reserve park was in private ownership.

Lee George advised that all the proposed works related to land in the ownership of the City of Lincoln Council.

RESOLVED that consent to the above works be approved and that the officer be authorised to carry out the requisite procedures to confirm to the Forestry Commission that suitable consultation had taken place.