The woodland has been bought by Anthony Strawson. Anthony currently owns a 130-acre woodland, Stourton Estates, in Baumber, near Horncastle.

The company manages a herd of red deer for venison. The land is also managed for timber, and uses include woodchip, bark, kindling, firewood logs, play chip and fencing. 

https://www.stourtonestates.co.uk

 

As a woodland management company, in the long term (decades) he wants to:-

- restore the Platts to a broadleaf woodland

- remove fallen trees and branches caused by storms

- rectify waterlogged areas

- maintain the bridleway down the middle of the wood to the railway line as they have a legal responsibility to do so

- allow the public to have free access to wander round among the trees

- sell timber by felling and replanting

- manage the bracken problem using native pigs

- involve villagers

 

The Platts is around 65 acres, with no ash and some mature specimen trees around the perimeter and no disease. However, there is a small amount of dieback of some pine trees due to waterlogging. If the waterlogging cannot be rectified there is a possibility of creating a water feature. He is going to preserve the badger set and add bird boxes, controlling squirrels and the deer population.

Published: Wednesday, 15th May 2024