Eaton Lands Tree Felling Works Update – February 2026

Hythe Town Council Public Statement – Eaton Lands Tree Felling Works update

The essential forestry works at Eaton Lands woodland to deal with the severe Ash Dieback are progressing well, with regular meetings taking place to ensure clear and constructive communication between Hythe Town Council and the contractors.

The contractors – E’s Trees – have been working industriously – at one point being ahead of schedule –  and using some of their own time to chop and distribute logs from felled trees which were made available to the public.

From an early stage, the contractors made a conscious decision to minimise the use of heavy machinery in order to reduce environmental impact. However, as part of the contract, a significant volume of timber must be safely extracted from the site. This requires the use of a small tracked log loader and trailer.

Unfortunately, the prolonged period of above-average rainfall throughout January and into February has created very challenging ground conditions. The combination of timber extraction and wet weather has led to deterioration of access tracks and footpaths across the site. Despite these difficulties, the contractors are working diligently to complete the essential felling and extraction works ahead of the nesting season.

Following further discussions, it has been agreed that attempting to reinstate paths while the ground remains saturated would be ineffective and may compromise the quality and safety of the final works. It is therefore considered more appropriate to wait until soil conditions improve, allowing reinstatement to be completed to the highest possible standard.

As a result, Eaton Lands woodland and quarry may need to remain closed beyond the beginning of March to allow the site to dry sufficiently and for paths to be restored to a safe condition for public use.

We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding. The situation will continue to be closely monitored, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond anyone’s control.