There are 3 reasons for the Holly Clearing Policy :

1) Botanical - due to its dense year round foliage, holly is destroying much of the interestingand varied undergrowth which is such a feature of the Common, and  is inhibiting growth of seedlings and saplings of alternative trees. Indeed it can eventually kill even large trees through which it grows. A recent article in the Guardian confirms this is a widespread problem.

2) Aesthetic - it blocks many of the attractive eye-level sightlines through the birch, beech and oak woods.

3) Recreational - many of the narrower paths are becoming blocked and this increases the footfall of walkers and runners on the clear paths, to their detriment. 

This is a twenty year programme, so our  volunteer group has two initial targets –

to clear areas where holly is only just beginning to take a hold and

to open up or keep open some of the vulnerable paths.  

Close to home we will soon start on the holly on the grass verge at North View and Camp View,  and the woods nearby,  but noting that the Rangers prefer to leave some trees and bushes on the edge to form an opaque year round sight screen  between the Common and the adjacent housing.