Welcome to Park Wood information page.
We have created this page to provide easy access to information on the project. We will be updating this site as the project progresses, so please keep checking for what's new.
Latest Update - February 2022
Park Wood Car Park will be closed for resurfacing works from 28 March 2022. There will be no public access while works are ongoing. We anticipate the works taking approximately 4 weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
As part of the ongoing work to improve Park Wood, the Environment Agency will be installing new way markers on the footpaths within the wood.
The Environment Agency asked for views on whether its proposed paths were suitable for you as regular users of the woodland. The consultation can be viewed here. The consultation closed on 27 January 2022. The Environment Agency received 76 responses. A summary report of the consultation will be published within 12 weeks of the closing date of the consultation. Thank you for taking the time to comment on the proposals.
Introduction
The Environment Agency has an ambition to be a leader in our response to the climate emergency. We want to remain resilient, whilst optimising our use of resources, benefiting people and communities and delivering environmental net gain. Park Wood provides an opportunity for us to create a better place.
Park Wood is one of the largest areas of unfragmented woodland in the Hailsham area.
The entire woodland is designated ancient, semi-natural woodland and it has a long history of coppice management back to mediaeval times when iron smelting was an important local industry. It is designated as a Local Wildlife Site, important for its species richness including a number of bat species, hazel dormouse, amphibians, reptiles, birds and bryophytes (plants). The woodland is highly valued by the local community both as wildlife habitat and as a place for a wide range of quiet informal recreation activities. Park Wood is designated as an Asset of Community Value and is designated as open-access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act.
(Image above) Park Wood location map
We have recently commissioned a new management plan for Park Wood, which has been approved by the Forestry Commission. The management plan encompasses our aspirations for the woodland, you can read a copy here [PDF 3MB]..
The Environment Agency’s vision is to restore the woodland and to conserve and enhance its biodiversity through a sustainable woodland management approach that works with natural processes. We will be guided by the Government’s 25 year environment plan; this is driven by the need to leave the natural environment in a better state than we inherited it.
At the same time, community access will be improved and maintained with the aim of enhancing recreational opportunities for local people and providing training and educational opportunities both for the local community and Environment Agency staff. Some areas will be left undisturbed with minimal intervention in order to benefit those species that depend on old growth woodland.
Some more detailed elements of our plans for financial year 2021/22 include:
Where to find out more information
Please check this page for project updates. You can also email us.
We are exploring opportunities for volunteers to get involved with ecological surveys heritage and archaeology work.
Thank you for visiting our information page.
Please contact:
park.wood@environment-agency.gov.uk
if:
For more information on how we will use and share your data, please see our Privacy Notice below and our Personal Information Charter
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