Back before Christmas we removed a large sycamore from Beachdown Way at Lodmoor as they are classified as a ‘non-native naturalised species’ and as such their removal from the reserves is part of our Management Plan Objectives as approved by Natural England. Where it was situated it also provided a predator perch – not great news for reedbed nesters.
Favourable conservation status for woodland SSSI’s can only be achieved if sycamores are removed and NE list it in the top 21 (from a list of 2700) non-native species with serious negative consequences for native biodiversity. Their value to native fauna is very limited as research has shown that sycamore has just 15 associated insect species, where as native trees such as oak support over 280 species, willows 260, hawthorn 150 and blackthorn 110.
Rather than remove the brash, it was decided to leave it in situ as habitat pile, which today we planted with native 'whips' including; dog rose, guelder rose, bird cherry and hawthorn which will grow through the sycamore lattice and create a colouful, invert rich nesting and feeding area for wildlife.