Letter: Compton Residents Are Angry and Upset Over Tree Felling

Published on: 8 May, 2025
Updated on: 8 May, 2025

From Sophie Schultz

In response to: Concerns Grow over Tree Felling on Loseley Estate During Bird-nesting Season

The concerns over the tree-felling at Bummoor Copse in Compton go beyond whether land owners Loseley Estate are complying with felling guidelines during bird nesting season.

They are clear-felling large parts of the woodland in Compton. This is a much-loved area with huge ecological value.

Residents are very worried that they intend to fell the entire woodland – the central part of which consists of majestic oak trees many hundreds of years old designated as ancient woodland (ie dating back to 1600) with a carpet of bluebells beneath at this time of year.

This is an area beloved by locals, criss-crossed by footpaths, in which local children build dens. The woodland has an immeasurable value that goes far beyond the price that Loseley Estate could get for the lumber.

They have already driven heavy machinery down quiet footpaths ripping up the landscape and trampling the bluebells, felling large number of trees (which were also lovely) on two sides of the ancient woodland and along a brook, and it is not clear when they will stop.

At a parish council meeting yesterday evening [May 7], they failed to send a representative to answer questions and the statement read out simply said it was private land and they had a felling licence. They have not offered any assurance about safeguarding the ancient bluebell wood. This is needed urgently.

Local people are very angry and upset.

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