Half of Mount Close Play Area's Poplar Trees to Be Felled from Thursday

Contractors working for Sevenoaks Town Council are due to start felling trees at Mount Close Play Area in Kippington on Thursday 24 September, the first stage of a plan to replace the site's mature Poplar trees with smaller species better suited to the small woodland's size.

The council says the Poplars are reaching maturity and now dominate both the play area and the housing around it. The felling is being carried out under an approved management plan and a Forestry Commission felling licence (WMP 1867, licence 019/4277/2025), and has been timed for late September specifically to fall outside bird nesting season, reducing disruption to wildlife as well as to residents.

Around half of the Poplars, on the eastern side of the site, will be removed first. The council plans to replant with smaller species including Cherry and Apple trees, and will only move on to felling the remaining Poplars on the western half once the new planting has taken root and the site has recovered. Sevenoaks Town Council says the work is expected to take several days and has apologised for any inconvenience. Residents with questions can contact the council on 01732 459953. Source: Sevenoaks Town Council