Photos courtesy of Chris Todd.
Local people came out in force recently [16 May], along with members of Sussex Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Earth, to protest against the felling of trees in Pondtail Wood on Muddleswood Road (opposite Singing Hills Golf Club). With no licence or planning permission the felling and introduction of rubble to create acres of hard standing has decimated the ancient woodland.
Pondtail Wood was bought earlier this year and the owner immediately started to fell the trees of this Planted Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) within the South Downs National Park, which without a licence (from the Forestry Commission) is illegal. He has also been burning the trees on site, removing the topsoil and bringing in tonnes of aggregates and compacting them into acres of hard standing.
Local people have raised concerns since mid-March and Mid Sussex District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority finally served a ‘Temporary Stop Notice’ on May 10, but this appears to have been too late to have prevented the destruction and in any case only applies to the importation of aggregate and creation of the hardstanding.
South Downs National Park woodland is under threat if it cannot be protected. Local people want to see the destruction stopped and the woodland repaired and replanted. They also want to see the full force of the law used to fine the owner and to send a strong message out that people cannot trash ancient woodland with impunity.
We can all help by raising our concerns with our local media, with Mid Sussex District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority (please do drop them an email or a letter!), and check out the resources below for more information and ways to get involved.
Further information:
- Save Pondtail Wood Facebook page
- Blog from Tony Whitbread, Chief Executive Sussex Wildlife Trust
- News footage including drone shots revealing the extent of the damage
- Video of felling continuing despite the owner apparently not having a felling licence
Brighton & Hove Friends of the Earth 
Why is the owner not named?
How many protesters foe and hippies are really interested in replanting pondtail woods ? Despite a number of postings on the wildlife trust forrum i have not had a single reply . I am quite happy to put my own hand in pocket supply many trees and put a small machine available . My interest is its proximity to my own land . I am near retirement and could not manage it alone . I have a number of constructive ideas . I would be happy to hear from any one that would like to make some more effort than a fruitlessnick protest . My e mail is farmergeddon@live.com would be nice to hear from genuinely interested people .