Islanders in the village of Cranmore are said to be "devastated" and were "close to tears" after they witnessed around 70 mature oak trees being ripped down - without permission.
During the last weekend of April (24,25), residents in Cranmore, which is a village three miles east of Yarmouth, were “visibly distressed” - as the felling was carried out in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - at Silver Glades Caravan Park.
Sources close to Isle of Wight Radio say the landowner, John Cooper, verbally promised to stop felling the ancient woodland until Monday, after concerns were raised by residents on the Saturday (24).
However, contractors continued to tear down the trees, which were a habitat for endangered and protected wildlife including bats, red squirrels and dormice. The Isle of Wight Council says the animals may have been “disturbed”.
The Forestry Commission is carrying out an investigation, after visiting the site last week and the Police wildlife and countryside liaison officer has also been informed.
Newly elected Freshwater North and Yarmouth Councillor Peter Spink, says residents were “visibly distressed”.
Cllr Spink, who is also a Trustee of the CPRE (Campaign for Rural England) told Isle of Wight Radio:
“I asked him [the landowner] what he was doing and he wasn’t very cooperative. He asked me what I was effectively doing on his land so I told him. I asked him if he had any paperwork to carry the felling out but didn’t really answer me and told me to get off his land and that I was trespassing…
“I asked him to email me if he had any permission and needless to say nothing arrived on my phone - no email. I asked him if he would not fell anymore trees until Monday and he agreed. The reason I asked him to do that was because it was a weekend and I wanted to contact the authority. Within a short time, a resident contacted me to say the felling started again and continued on Saturday, Sunday and some of Monday.”
On the Silver Glades website, it states there is an ‘abundance’ of wildlife.
It states:
‘Efforts are made to ensure that the local environment is both sustained and enhanced by the caravan park’s activities, so good environmental practices are used wherever possible.'
But Mr Spink says the claims are untrue and they have“devastated” the wildlife population in the area which is “very upsetting”.
Mr Spink says he and the residents want the trees to be replanted:
“What we really want is a replanting order and there is power under the forestry act to order that. It will take many years for the trees to grow again but at least the land will be protected for the future, the trees will grow again and if - as we suspected he wants to extend the number of caravans on site - in order to put more on he needed to clear the trees. It seems to me, if there is a re-planting order position in place the planning committee at the Isle of Wight Council would be very reluctant to grant permission for the trees to be uprooted again - for caravans.”
MP Bob Seely said the action is ‘appalling’, he added:
"This action was appalling. It was, in my opinion, a selfish act of environmental vandalism. These beautiful trees take decades to grow and live for centuries. To cut them down in this thoughtless way is utterly wretched.
"I have made it clear to the Council and the Forestry Commission that I would support any and every measure - to ensure that replanting takes place.
“I will be opposing any planning application on the back of this tree felling. I hope the Council will also take dim view of this behaviour.I thank Cllr Peter Spink for his work speaking for his community."
An Isle of Wight Council Spokesperson said:
“We can confirm the trees are within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), on private land and do not benefit from Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) or conservation area protection.
“It is not known who did the work, however depending on the amount of wood removed they may have had to apply for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission.
“Given the age of the trees it is also probable they housed protected habitats such as birds, bats and potentially squirrels which may have been disturbed. Such disturbance could be contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
“Neither of these are within the Isle of Wight Council’s jurisdiction and it understands that the Island’s Forestry Commission officer and the Police wildlife and countryside liaison officer have been notified of the situation.”
If you fell trees without a license and it is not in your garden you need a licence to carry out the work, the consequence could be a court order, leading to prosecution and/or a fine.
You can report illegal tree felling here.
The owner of the caravan site has been approached for a comment.
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