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Tunbridge Wells Borough Council calls on UPM Tilhill’s forest management service

UPM Tilhill, the UK market leader in forest and woodland management, has secured a five year contract with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The contract will enable the company’s South East England District to continue its care of the Borough’s woodlands at Marshley Harbour and Bassetts /Snipe Wood near Pembury and at High Wood near Hawkenbury - areas the company has managed since 2003.

“We recognise that the woodlands of Tunbridge Wells are a wonderful asset for local people to enjoy and are also a precious natural resource that needs our investment,” said Cllr James Scholes, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. “We are delighted that UPM Tilhill will continue to manage our woodland estate to ensure the quality and diversity of our woodland landscapes can continue to flourish."

Over the next five years, UPM Tilhill’s activity will be guided by the Borough’s Woodland Management Plan with the focus on:

• Protecting ancient woodland – management of conifer on ancient woodland sites by thinning and some felling to maintain and encourage the development of native broadleaf species such as oak, rowan and birch.

• Creation of broadleaved forest – development of forest diversity by selectively reducing areas of chestnut coppice, retaining up to 70 stems per hectare, whilst promoting natural regeneration of birch and willow and planting of native broadleaves such as oak and rowan.

• Improved public access – maintenance and widening of woodlands’ networks of paths and by-ways will help boost visitors’ enjoyment of the woodlands.

• Habitat improvement - by cutting back coppice from ride edges, UPM Tilhill will create woodland edge habitats to help boost numbers of invertebrates and support a greater diversity of bird life.

• Heathland Restoration - areas of heathland at Marshley Harbour will continue to be restored through control of bracken and broadleaved regeneration.

• Rhododendron control - once Rhododendron ponticum has invaded an area, native trees and plants have to battle to survive. Control of the species is essential to bring light to the woodland floor and encourage the regeneration of native plants.

UPM Tilhill also aims to work together with Tunbridge Wells Borough council to achieve UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) Certification for its woodlands. This internationally recognised badge of sustainable forest management encompasses environmental, social and economic sustainability and is endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).


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For further information please contact:
Ruth Roy
01892 861008/07771 940494
ruth.roy@upm-kymmene.com

Notes to editors
UPM Tilhill is the UK’s largest timber harvesting company, harvesting over 2.0 million tonnes per year, and is the market leader in UK forest management. The company provides a full range of consultancy and contracting services to the forest owner and forestry investor. In 2005, the company received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade. Further information is available on the company’s website at www.upm-tilhill.com