 Environment
Tickhill Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. Principally for Health & Safety reasons and in order to preserve the historical features of this important 12th Century Motte and Bailey Norman Castle, essential tree surgery and vegetation control works are due to commence in mid-August 2004. The work is anticipated to last approximately two months, weather permitting The Duchy's objectives for the Phase II works are to: a. Return the site back into active and positive management. b. Maintain and enhance the species-rich diversity in terms of flora and fauna present at the site. c. Halt the repidly developing sycamore monoculture which is now causing harm to the Castle site. Continuing on from the scrub clearance works done to the Castle Motte in summer 2003, the Duchy aims to preserve the features of the Ancient Monument by controlling vegatative growth on the steep slopes leading up to the Bailey. The work will also involve felling approximately 50 trees within the Castle boundary and undertaking tree surgery to a further 10 trees. In addition all fallen tree debris and branches will be removed from the moat. A small selection of trees which have been removed will be cut up into habitat piles and left in the secluded parts of the Castle grounds. As part of the longer term tree management plan for the Castle, in 2005 we will be considering planting suitable native tree species in order to create a more appropriate species diversity that has been lacking in previous years. This will be undertaken in close co-operation with English Heritage so as not to damage the Ancient Monument. The Phase II work due to start shortly has full consent from Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council's Tree Officer and Ecologist Planner, both of whom have been closely consulted, as have English Heritage. The scheme also has detailed Scheduled Monument Consent from the Secretary of State of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Felling Licence Approval is currently awaited from the Forestry Commision. For further information please contact: Smiths Gore - Managing Agents to the Duchy of Lancaster - 01904 756316 - David Steel Ecologist for Doncaster MBC - 01302 734924 © Copyright 2004 Tickhill Online |
