What’s happening at Lady Anne’s Drive? An update, February 2025

February 18, 2025 | Nature news | 3 minute read

At the end of this month (on the 25th and 26th February to be exact) we will conclude the final phase of our replanting project at Lady Anne’s Drive. We understand the immediate response may be one of shock that we at Holkham – an estate committed to being as sustainable as possible – are cutting down trees. However, there is no need to be alarmed. The felling of old Poplar trees and the planting of native species is a project that will deliver significant benefits for the wildlife and ecosystem of this precious area of coastline.

The Poplar trees that lined the drive were planted after the 1953 floods, replacing the dead or dying Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex) trees. At the time, the rationale for planting this fast-growing and robust species was that it would cover the cars parked along Lady Anne’s Drive, to provide shade and a more pleasing view.

However, these trees are now in decline due to their age, the nature of the species, ground pressures and years of harsh exposure. These deteriorating trees now pose a safety risk to the people, dogs and horses walking and driving beneath them.

We have been gradually removing these Poplars and replanting the drive with alternative, native trees and shrubs such as Hazel, Hawthorn and Field Maple. This replanting will ensure that a robust ecosystem is created for wildlife, as well as a foraging route for bats.

It will also ensure we fulfil our duty of care to our visitors.

Our Forestry team was been granted a clearfell licence to remove all of the Poplar trees along Lady Anne’s Drive as part of a felling licence, authorised by the Forestry Commission, with consultation from other stakeholders including Natural England, North Norfolk District Council, Norfolk Coastal Partnership and Historic England.

This process has been staged, with these two days in February 2025 being the last phase. The trees have been sensitively removed by thinning, removing trees evenly along the drive. This has helped us mitigate the aesthetic impact of felling, and allowed appropriate replanting within the gaps created. It also helped maintain a significant vertical element for biodiversity. Lady Anne’s Drive is a very busy bat corridor, which we are committed to both protecting and promoting. We had ecological surveys undertaken to collect data and to assist with mitigation management.

Timber has been retained for use in our biomass boilers, heating Holkham Hall and its surrounding buildings and The Victoria. The rest of the trees are chipped on site and then sold to power stations. The stumps are left in situ, which protects carbon storage and retains habitat for the Poplar Hornet Moth.

We hope this answers any questions you might have regarding the felling on Lady Anne’s Drive. Find out more about our commitment to land management and conservation here.