DEVELOPMENT company Tilfen Land has started an ecological project which could take up to 10 years to complete.

It forms part of an ecological plan agreed with Bexley Council as part of Tilfen Land’s planning permission for the Veridian Park business centre.

The woodland management plan is designed to reinvigorate a rundown woodland area in Waldrist Way, Thamesmead, which the company claims has been the subject of historic unlawful horse grazing, vandalism and partial water logging during wet periods.

The first phase will see the planting of 1,118 trees and 3,267 shrubs during the current winter planting season.

Among the native trees being planted are the common alder, black poplar, common ash, wild crab apple, wild cherry, hornbeam, white willow and grey willow, while woodland planting will include field maple, dogwood, holly, field rose and purple willow.

The felling of the dead and dying trees will be done out of the bird-nesting season in consultation with arboricultural and wildlife advisers.

Further work will include the creation of new ditches and ponds to extend the existing dyke network.

Tilfen Land is doing the planting in consultation with Bexley Council, the Forestry Commission and environmental and arboricultural consultants.