Latest News
Saw mill at Wepre Park
Published: 29/07/2014
Rangers at Wepre Park have been cutting felled wood for use in construction
across the park using a mobile saw mill, thanks to part of a £583,400 grant
from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The wood is larch from the woodland at Wepre which is being removed to help
prevent the spread of the disease phytophthora ramorum.
The mobile saw mill was in the park in June for three days planking the larch
trees to be used in cladding the visitor centre and to maintain signposts,
fences, benches and tables.
Woodland across the County is often thinned or cut down to reduce the spread of
disease or as part of woodland management schemes.
The discarded wood is used for a variety of different sustainability projects
as well as being used for maintenance at Wepre. It has great biodiversity value
in the forest and the rangers often create brash piles throughout the
countryside.
Excess wood can look like it is not needed but anyone helping themselves to
timber can be accused of theft and Flintshire Countryside Service is warning
people not to get caught out.
Wood thefts have been recorded at Wepre Park and Holywell and an incident at
Etna Park in Buckley led to one person receiving a police caution after wood
was removed from what looked like a surplus pile.
Councillor Bernie Attridge, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “It’s great to
see that the rangers are able to utilise the felled timber in a sustainable way
but also that they are still able to enhance the woodlands biodiversity.
“However timber theft is a concern and we are asking the wider public if they
see an unauthorised person taking firewood please report them to the
authorities.”
Call Wepre Park on 01244 814931 or call the police on 101 if you wish to report
any suspicious behaviour.
Photo caption: Mobile saw mill at Wepre Park.