Statement from Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment in relation to tree works in the Castle Grounds, Newark

The upcoming Gatehouse Project has allowed us the opportunity to enhance this beautiful space which is welcoming to all, with biodiversity and history at the very core.  We are honoured to be custodians of Newark’s most famous and iconic landmark and want to ensure we do all we can to protect and enhance it for future generations.  All too often you see underinvestment in such beautiful places or buildings which are subsequently left to become derelict, but this is definitely not our vision for our Castle.

Without the removal of some trees and shrubs, it will not be possible to ensure the Castle and its grounds are welcoming to all, creating paths that provide easy access. While we will ensure that these are replaced close to the site, the removal of 16 trees and some shrubs will take place from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 November 2024.  This has not been a decision taken lightly, much careful deliberation has been put into the plans to ensure that they balance our priorities of making the Castle and its gardens accessible to all, preserving the archaeology of the Scheduled Ancient Monument, and providing a garden which is accessible and enjoyable to visit to everyone and attractive to wildlife.

We have worked with experts, commissioning an independent tree impact report and separate biodiversity report to support the project’s development and this shows that with the removal of these trees, many of which are young and self-seeded, the project will see a biodiversity net gain due to the inclusion of more colourful, wildlife-friendly shrubs, hedges and nectar-rich planting. Planning permission has been granted for the tree works and while building work on the Castle Gatehouse project is likely to begin in early 2025, we are carrying out these works now in advance of the bird nesting season.

Logs and tree stems will be retained on site as much as possible, and used as habitat piles or play features, and we are also pursuing plans to replant an equal number of trees nearby, potentially in Riverside Park. Visitors to the gardens will be glad to know that the large cedar tree near the Victorian flower bed is being retained and will be cared for throughout the development works with a root protection zone in place to protect it from damage.

We feel strongly that the benefit to the Castle’s visitors and the increased biodiversity of the gardens make these works both meaningful and necessary. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to being able to share our vision for an accessible and nature-friendly garden (with continued free access for all) with you once the project is complete.

The transformative Gatehouse Project at Newark Castle is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Newark Town Board and the District Council.