Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s parks team is encouraging the public not to take wood away from public open spaces.
In recent years it has become noticeable that both fallen and standing timber has been deliberately taken from Weymouth and Portland parks and gardens.
Dead wood, usually in the form of tree branches and trunks, is deliberately left by the council’s tree surgeons to provide important habitats for a range of fungi, insects and animals. These are sometimes stacked into piles or heaps and on other occasions in rows or as isolated pieces.
The range of organisms that use this material is very large and many other animals rely on those that inhabit these piles for food. Fungi will start to break down the wood, which then allows insects and invertebrates to use the wood for food and shelter, as well as a place to lay eggs or reproduce.
Larger organisms, such as birds, then feed on this. Removal of the timber laid on the floor could result in lower numbers of birds in our open spaces.
On other occasions the wood actually acts as a hiding place for smaller animals and reptiles to avoid predators or to be able to move from place-to-place with a lower risk of being preyed upon.
Where it is safe to do so, the council deliberately leaves standing dead or fallen trees where they are. This is because some species have adapted to only feed or live in standing dead trees and their removal results in these species disappearing.
There have also been incidents where fallen trees, which have been left deliberately, being chopped up and taken by people. Healthy trees have also had branches cut off and taken away.
Carl Dallison, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s Open Spaces and Bereavement Manager said: “Our open spaces team do as much as they can to encourage wildlife to thrive in the area.
“The removal of wood may appear to be harmless, but it can have significant knock-on effects for the surrounding wildlife.
“Our partners such as the Friends of the Nothe, Lodmoor and Rodwell Trail also help us by creating bug hotels and eco piles of brash.”
Dinah Ellis, spokeswoman for The Friends of Lodmoor Country Park said: “Lodmoor Friends are disappointed at the loss of wood from the park.
“It’s great that the man-made Country Park has become such an important part of the natural environment. Every one of the trees has a valuable role in that, whether it is growing or fallen.
“We love watching wildlife nurtured by the log piles and fallen trees springing into new growth, to see people spoiling this by cutting up trees and taking away logs is very upsetting.”
There are a range of free events across parks and open spaces in Weymouth and Portland in the coming weeks. The bug hotel in Sandsfoot Gardens is currently being restocked with wood and all things yummy for creepy crawlies by the 1st Wyke Regis Brownies.
On 17 May, Replay will be performing in Greenhill gardens as part of a summer programme organised by the Friends of Greenhill Gardens (FOGG).
Radipole friends host the ‘Picnic in the Park’ on 25 May and ‘Lodmoor Ahoy’, run by the Friends of Lodmoor, will be taking place on 19 July.
Notes to editors
Issued by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Communications Team. For more information please contact Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s Open Spaces and Bereavement Manager Carl Dallison on 01305 838419.
