Column: Working with the local community to secure Intake Wood for future generations

It’s important that residents have the right information as we know this is a much-loved local woodland and I want to explain its history, what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and what comes next.

Firstly, Intake Wood is owned and managed by the District Council. It’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly, and our team is committed to ensuring the site is safe for nearby residents, while also protecting local wildlife in the area.

Intake Wood has been here for a long time. While we don’t know the exact date, historic mapping indicates that at some point in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s native trees were cleared and replaced with commercial non-native plantations - primarily Corsican Pine, with some Scots Pine. These species were initially planted to serve as a secure national supply of timber and wood products. While there are no accurate records, we believe the current set of trees may be the second yield that has been here.

These trees, especially when planted in dense commercial woodlands, like Intake Wood, have a life expectancy of around 80 years. They are shallow-rooted and, as they age, they are likely to topple during high winds. While previous commercial fells will have taken place before the site came into the ownership of the District Council, the trees on site now are believed to be around 80 years old and therefore are reaching the end of their life.

We are working closely with the Forestry Commission, who manage a neighbouring site and whom we expect to be undertaking the same type of licensed woodland management there, as we are, in Intake Wood.

The long term aim in the 32-acre Intake Wood is to replace the ageing Corsican Pine trees with a more natural mix of native species, such as oak and other broadleaf trees, to create a healthier, more resilient woodland for future generations.

Our intention was to allow this transition to happen gradually through selective thinning. However, our assessments, supported by the Forestry Commission, found safety concerns with the size and position of trees growing on a 3.5-acre slope close to people’s homes. Corsican pine can be vulnerable in strong winds, and in these specific areas thinning would have made these trees even more unstable, increasing rather than reducing the risk. On safety grounds, the difficult but necessary decision was therefore taken to remove those trees and replant with native species. This work was approved by the Forestry Commission who granted the required felling license. This will help ensure Intake Wood thrives for generations, offering improved habitat for local wildlife and greater resilience to storms.

We have strived to keep residents informed throughout this work. Notices were displayed on site from October 2025, and the contractors have been taking care to check for nesting birds daily before work commences. Work had been underway on site for around six months with few issues raised.

Unfortunately, at the beginning of April, we were informed of an incident when a sub-contractor mistakenly felled trees outside the licensed area. We were extremely disappointed in this. We reported this immediately to the Forestry Commission when we were made aware, the individual responsible was dismissed from site and we are working with the Forestry Commission, investigating how this happened. While the error was regrettable, fortunately, the pines removed provided little by way of habitat. We are now looking at what we can now do to mitigate this following the Forestry Commissions guidance. The sub-contractor estimates that eight to ten trees were removed in error, although we understand local residents believe it to be more. We will know exactly when the investigation is complete.

We are incredibly disappointed that this mistake was made and I would like to apologise sincerely for the worry and inconvenience this has caused. Since then, we have met with local residents to listen and rebuild confidence with them. We are committed to listening to their concerns and are serious about making changes to reflect their views and ideas.  As a result of our meetings with residents, we are already developing some plans for the area and will be involving residents in developing those. Our teams are meeting local residents at Intake Wood regularly. If you would like to be involved, please email us at [email protected] or call us on 01636 650 000.

We are aware of a rumour about a housing development being put on site and another about us profiteering from these works. Let me assure you - these claims are completely false. Our only aim is to make Intake Wood safer, healthier, and more accessible for everyone. We’ve currently paused felling work and are reassessing our approach to the site.

We will keep residents informed on our next steps and will continue to update our webpage with questions and information, so that everyone has access to the same information. If you would like to find out more, please visit www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/intakewoodupdate

We are determined to work with the community every step of the way. Intake Wood is a cherished green space, and together, we can secure its future for generations to come.