National Highways is set to begin a large-scale tree clearance around its M25 Junction 10 scheme, as part of a project to restore up to 25 hectares of heathland.
The junction in Surrey where the M25 and A3 intersect and through which over 300,000 vehicles pass every day, is surrounded by ancient heathland. Starting on Monday (4 September), the government-owned company will begin a long-term project to clear an area the size of 47 football pitches.
National Highways said much of the woodland at Wisley and Ockham commons is dominated by Scots pine of the same height and age, resulting in a uniform woodland, and that some areas have not been managed for years, leading to overcrowded trees and poor ecological conditions.
It said opening up the areas will encourage heathland plants and wildlife to flourish again.
Senior project manager Jonathan Wade said: ‘Heathland is a diverse habitat, creating lots of homes for all kinds of animals, insects, reptiles, and birds.
‘However, in the 1900s, many people didn’t think heathland habitats were useful, which meant vast swathes were lost to forests for timber production.
‘The long-term process of bringing this threatened habitat back to life starts with the removal of trees, which might seem concerning at first, but is a vital first step to getting the land back to its natural state.’
National Highways said it would allow plants like heather, bell heather, gorse, wood sage, perforate St John’s-wort and wavy hairgrass to grow again, which will, in turn, support the wildlife that needs lowland heathland to survive.
Wildlife that will benefit includes insects and birds, with the heathland providing a key nesting habitat for woodlarks, Dartford warblers and nightjars.
The company will also install toad underpasses with protective fencing so amphibians can continue to move safely around the area, and to protect them on their journeys to and from their breeding ponds. New bat boxes will also be installed, with nine species of bat known to live in the area.
National Highways said the size and scale of its restoration project means it will be phased over several years and that it will monitor and manage the enhanced areas for ‘up to’ 25 years.
