The review will consider aspects of Network Rail’s vegetation management, including the rationale and effectiveness of the company’s policies. Credit: Geograph.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a review of Network Rail’s vegetation management to ensure the safety of its railway operations while protecting wildlife and trees.

Figures from a report by the Guardian recently revealed that the infrastructure manager could chop down 10 million trees within 60m of track, triggering public concerns over the preservation of the country’s flora earlier in May.

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The revelation led Rail Minister Jo Johnson to call for all Network Rail felling projects to be suspended during this year’s nesting season, except for in areas where safety is critical. Over 400 incidents of trains’ collisions with fallen trees were recorded last year, while another 1,000 related incidents caused delays to services, costing the industry more than £100m.

Last week, the DfT appointed John Varley, director of land management and property development company Clinton Devon Estates,  as chair of the review.

Network Rail said: “We have well thought out standards and policies in place that have been developed over many years with the help of experts that we believe strike the right balance and maintain a safe and biodiverse lineside.

“Most of the time when putting those standards and policies into action we get it right, but sometimes we don’t. To help us improve we have formed close partnerships with the Tree Council, the Woodland Trust and others expert in the field. We welcome the government’s review and the opportunity it presents to further improve.”

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The DfT outlined its terms of reference last Thursday, announcing it will consider all aspects of Network Rail’s approach to vegetation management, including the rationale and effectiveness of the company’s existing vegetation management policies.

As part of the process, the review will aim to identify where best practice already exists, as well as how to implement best practice where it’s lacking. The board will also assess Network Rail’s capacity and capability to control vegetation in a way that enhances wildlife and the natural environment, both within the operator’s existing footprint and on a larger scale. Staff training is also part of the review, as the board will consider what skills are needed to identify alternative approaches.

The review will finally evaluate Network Rail’s ability to monitor and account for the number of trees felled and replaced, as well as its handling of communications with the public.