LOCATION
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The forested areas on either side of the first 650m of the Mourne Way walking route (starting at the back of the Kilbroney Caravan Park)
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DURATION
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Between September 2024 and Spring 2025
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WORKS
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Tree thinning works to improve biodiversity and promote the natural regeneration of native trees.
Machinery will be working to remove selected trees then stack these close to the road verge. Upon completion, haulage lorries will remove the harvested timber from the site.
PLEASE ADHERE TO ALL ON-SITE SIGNAGE AND BANKSMAN GUIDANCE.
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IMPACT ON VISITORS
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- WALKERS – additional caution required along the start of the Mourne Way walking route.
- MOUNTAIN BIKERS - closure of sections 41 to 43 on the red trail (diversions in place).
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Northern Ireland Forest Service manage this area of woodland under a Low impact Silvicultural System (LISS). This continuous cover silvicultural system aims to improve biodiversity and the resilience of the forest, whilst retaining tree cover. The planned forest operations include harvesting interventions to reduce the density of conifer trees in the canopy. This will allow light to penetrate onto the forest floor and promote ground flora development as well as the natural regeneration of tree species. The harvesting operations target the thinning of conifers, thereby promoting native oak and ground flora development. There are also small areas of wind-blown trees that will be cleared during the works. The overall management objective for this area of woodland is to develop a multi-storey uneven aged forest with increased biodiversity benefits.
Click here to download a copy of the map (below).
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delegated authority from the Keeper of Public Records, © Crown copyright and database right (2024) CS&LA777