Content

A key objective of the Council’s Tree
and Woodland Policy and its' Biodiversity Policy is to enhance the
biodiversity of Council-owned woodlands through proactive habitat
management. This is being achieved through implementing the work
agreed within woodland management plans previously approved for
each site in partnership with the Forestry Commission.
This contract will enable agreed management works to be delivered
on Rushett Common in Bramley. This work will involve the removal of
trees with poor future potential to allow those remaining more
space and light to develop, and also create better conditions for
for young trees to establish for the future.
The value of the contract will be fixed and it will be valid
between the months of October and February inclusive, to allow for
the work to be undertaken outside of the bird nesting season.

Reasons for the decision

To enable the Council to meet the obligations
within its’ Forestry Commission approved woodland management
plan for Rushett Common, and to deliver the Council’s wider
objective of enhancing the biodiversity value of the woodlands
within its ownership.

Alternative options considered

To not carry out woodland management on
Rushett Common. The Council would be unable to meet the obligations
within the woodland management plan for this site, nor the
objectives of its Biodiversity policy and Tree and Woodland policy.
The woodland at Rushett Common would remain in sub-optimal
condition, with its full biodiversity potential unfulfilled.