Stanmer Woods Plan

BHCC Parks Projects Team have put out a draft Stanmer Woodland Management Plan for consultation. The plan will strive to bring the woodland in the Stanmer estate back into active economic management with the aim of sustainable production of timber and woodfuel through the application of sound woodland management practices. This plan will also aim to ensure that the nature conservation, landscape and historic features of the woodland are protected and where practical enhanced. Public access provision will be maintained and the woodland will continue to provide a peaceful and pleasant setting for informal recreational activities.

The draft plan sets out how the woodland can be managed over the next 10 years to:

• Maintain and preserve open access.
• Build resilience against Ash Dieback and other diseases and ensure existing woodland cover is maintained.
• Increase biodiversity and protect nationally and locally rare flora and fauna.
• Produce semi commercial timber extraction of coppice products, wood fuel and timber. 

The plan is also supporting the Stanmer Restoration Project HLF application by:

• Protecting historical, archaeological, and environmental elements on the estate.
• Providing related activities such as rural skills, forest schools and wood based produce.
• Increase the city’s offer for volunteering work such as coppicing, pollarding, scrub clearing and general woodland management practices.

The Stanmer Park Restoration project is a joint initiative between Brighton & Hove City Council, Plumpton College and South Downs National Park Authority and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) .

Ancient woodland

Find out more and make comments.

Public information sessions will be held on Thursday February 1 and Saturday 3 February 2018 at Stanmer Tea Rooms from 9am to midday.

The plan can also be viewed in full on request at Hollingdean Depot Learning and Resource Centre (please contact the parks projects team 01273 294737 to arrange) and will be available at the Stanmer Tea rooms sessions.

The consultation closes on 12th February 2018.