Overscourt Wood is a working woodland producing sustainable timber. We are working in the forest during summer and autumn 2025. This page provides more information about the work we're doing.
What is happening?
Overscourt Wood is a working woodland, managed by Forestry England to produce sustainable timber for the UK market. We carry out regular forestry operations, which are an essential part of sustainable forest management.
We are thinning the trees across several areas of Overscourt Wood. This means removing selected trees for timber products. This gives the remaining trees more space and light to grow to their full potential. Thinning also lets more light onto the forest floor, which improves the habitat for ground flora and the wildlife it supports.
Some of the trees we’re removing are showing signs of chalara ash dieback. These trees become brittle and can become dangerous if they drop branches or fall. Where we can, we keep deadwood in a woodland because it is an important habitat and part of the forest’s lifecycle. For safety, we remove trees with ash dieback in areas most used by people.
The timber from Overscourt Wood is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) as being sustainably produced.
Can I still visit Overscourt?
The most important thing for Forestry England is to keep the public, our staff, and contractors safe.
The forest is still open for you to visit, but there will be times when some access points or the car park will be closed so we can work safely. Please follow all signs and instructions at all times. These are for your safety, whether or not you can see or hear us working. This will help us to finish working as quickly as possible.
Forestry work is very hazardous. A falling tree can weigh several tonnes and hit the ground at nearly 60mph. If a harvesting machine chainsaw snaps, it can fly through the forest like a bullet.
What about the wildlife?
Harvesting trees is an important part of sustainable forest management. Before we start any forestry work, we carry out thorough ecological surveys to check for species such as birds, mammals, rodents, invertebrates, flora, and fungi. For example, Overscourt Wood supports several species of butterfly and moth.
We consider these findings against complex factors including tree health, how the ground slopes, soil condition, and likely rainfall when planning work that will support our long-term management plan. There isn’t a single, perfect time of year for forestry work.
Where can I find out more?
If you have any questions about our work in the Forest, please email us.