trees cut down
Welwyn Hatfield Council accused of ‘murdering’ woodland
By Paul Christian, Reporter
Thursday, February 9, 2012
4:32 PM
MIGHTY oak trees being felled in WGC are a ‘desecration’ of nature according to angry walkers.
Sherrardspark WoodJane Rook, of Honeycroft, WGC, said: “What is going on a Sherrardspark Wood – it’s being desecrated.
“There are machines bulldozing trees, they’re making such a mess.
“Last time they said it was to pick up rhododendrons, which are weeds, but this time they’re knocking down perfectly good oaks.”
Ms Rook, who walks her dog at the wood twice a day and also watches birds there there, said the action would harm undergrowth and bramble-dwelling animals including greater and lesser-spotted woodpeckers.
trees cut downAnd Heidi Butcher, of Monkswood, said her grandchildren had asked “Why are they murdering the woods?”
She added: “They’ve decided to napalm it.
“It looks like a road going through it.”
But Welwyn Hatfield Council insisted the bulldozing was essential to “encourage regeneration of new trees, especially oak and hornbeam”.
Temporary fencing will also be installed to keep muntjac deer away from seedlings.
A spokeswoman said: “Garrod Walk and the bridleway joining it at its east end has been widened to let in light and sunshine.
“Many of the felled trees will grow again into bushes to provide good wildlife habitat and the majesty of the remaining oak trees left will be clear to all who visit the wood.
“A small bulldozer helps to make light work of moving brushwood into ‘habitat’ piles and a ‘forwarder’ is used to transport logs.”
She added: “The work is necessary in order to maintain this woodland ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ in favourable conservation condition and has been approved by Natural England and the Forestry Commission.”
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4 comments
Last year the council decided to chop a tree down outside my house in Moorlands. It was in bud and ready to come into bloom, i was so upset, had been there since we moved into our house in 1988. They told me it was diseased! i asked if they were going to replace it and they said "no it is not our policy to replace trees. How can you argue with them, they always have some good reason..excuse!. But this takes the biscuit, chopping down a beautiful oak tree, well as the spokeswoman for welwyn hatfield council has said, "it is necessary to maintain the woodland" and because the natural england and forestry commision has approved it it's ok then. Tell that to the poor oak tree who probably took around two hundred years to get to that height and felled in an instance.
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dog lover
Friday, February 10, 2012
I had come to realise that my favourite 'weed' the rhododendron would be a casualty to save the rest of the woodland but I did not anticipate that the remaining woodland be also a victim. As already been said by nomis how long will it take to make the wood to be what it once was?
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ganett
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Double standards by the council. Try getting permission to “trim” an oak tree in your front garden causing subsidence and it’s a different story. Leave the trees in the woods, its where they belong !!
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HH
Thursday, February 9, 2012
I have never commented on this site before, but after walking my dog in the woods on Sunday, I felt I should as I was that disgusted. What a complete mess. It really does look as if half of the land is being prepped for major construction work. I seriously wonder whether or not WHC knew what they were signing up for before the JCB's rolled in. And as for the fencing to keep the muntjac deer away from seedlings? - I wouldn't bother as the deer have probably gone elsewhere, I know I would if someone did that to my back garden! Can someone from WH Council please tell us how long they expect it to take to grow back to something that is even half attractive? Until then, I, along with all the others who I've encouraged to visit these woods will I'm sure, steer well clear and go elsewhere - it's that bad.
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nomis
Thursday, February 9, 2012