Today we are beginning to clear Cherry Laurel from Pocket Park in Roopers, Speldhurst. Here is some more information about what we are doing:
We are trying to encourage biodiversity in Pocket Park, which stands a better chance when non-native, invasive species like Laurel are cleared from the area. As a fast spreading species, the Laurel is taking goodness from the soil, which is detrimental to other trees in the park.
The Laurel in the centre of Pocket Park shades a particularly large area so grass and flowers cannot grow around it. The area is small and we do not want to lose any more grassland.
Laurel leaves and seeds are poisonous and we have never found any insect larvae feeding in them, unlike Hazel, Lime or other native trees.
Although Laurel do give cover for birds in the winter, the area around Pocket Park already has plenty of evergreen trees and plants that do this.
We have checked that there are no birds nesting in the Laurel before starting work.
Many thanks to Alan Ford and the High Weald Partnership for their advice.
If you'd like to know more about our plans for Pocket Park, do
get in touch.