Poplar clearance in Walk Meadow

.Early in 2025 we will be clearing poplar trees in Walk Meadow. This is all part of the Nature Recovery plan for this site. The trees are non-native varieties and are spreading rapidly from their original site as a boundary row of trees. BMAT have taken expert advice from ecologists at Kent Wildlife Trust and unfortunately it is necessary to remove all the trees and keep the area near the south boundary cut for a few years to prevent regrowth. The benefit to wildlife and residents will be increased sunlight in that area so potentially more wildflowers and greater diversity of butterflies and bees.

The contractors (Tantons) are using machinery that causes as little compaction of the soil as possible and will create log piles useful as habitat for insects, amphibians and reptiles. They will also chip the smaller branches to spread on the paths to make them less slippery.

We will be creating woodland ponds and boggy areas in due course so Walk Meadow will have a mixed habitat with woodland, wetland, grassland, hedgerow and some edible trees and shrubs for residents and wildlife to enjoy.