Letter: We Are Very Dismayed at Loseley Estate’s Action

Published on: 16 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 16 Feb, 2026

Coppicing work by Loseley Estate has blocked the popular path

From Gerry and Jill Tebbutt

See: Blocking of Popular Field-side Path Criticised – Councillor to Meet Loseley Estate Manager

Like many other residents and visitors, along with members of St. Catherine’s Village Association (SCVA), The Guildford Dragon and various local WhatsApp groups, I would like to express my anger at Loseley Estate regarding the sudden closure of access to the permissive path on the Hog’s Back and the weak explanation of creating a “dead hedge” by coppicing.

Firstly, I would like to take you back to 2023 when there was large scale felling of ash trees due to severe ash die back and one understands that this work was carried out by Loseley Estate with public safety in mind.

However, we were told that due to the devastation caused by this operation there were plans to replant and resurface the path and the removal of the trees was expected to open up the woodland allowing more light to reach the forest floor in order to encourage more wild flowers and wildlife habitat.

We were also told, on many occasions, that Loseley House would be planting a hundred trees in order to regenerate the site and would be in memory of Susan More-Molyneaux who died that year and there would be one tree for every year of her life.

This is what was said at the time:

Responsible Parties: The work is being carried out by the Loseley Estate.

Impact and Regeneration: While the felling has significantly altered the landscape, there are plans to replant and resurface the path. The removal is also expected to open up the woodland, allowing more light to reach the forest floor.

However, the site has been left uncared for, piles of dead broken bushes and stumps and coming up to three years nothing has grown in the forest and the birds who used the area have mostly long moved elsewhere with no signs of flowers, regeneration of woodland and wildlife – just a mass of brambles and debris. None of the promised replanting has taken place.

Moving on to the current situation, the explanation given on the notice under the heading “Biodiversity Boost” states that by opening up the canopy, light reaches the ground which can encourage “an explosion” of woodland flowers like bluebells and primroses – which, in turn, supports diverse pollinators, insects and rare butterflies like the pearl bordered fritillary.

But there is nowhere for the bluebells and primroses to grow as the ground is swamped with brambles and debris from the 2023 debacle.

Under the heading “Carbon Sequestration” it is said that healthy, growing hedges are highly effective at capturing and storing carbon, often out performing equivalent areas of woodland. But there isn’t a healthy growing hedge, what has been erected is a “dead hedge”.

In places there are tree stumps, branches and debris stuffed in them making Green Lane look as though it has been vandalised. I feel that the wording and explanation used is a cover up in order to deflect from the real reason why this work has been done which is to seal off the “permissive path” from any visitors and close one of the most spectacular views towards the South Downs to those interested in enjoying and protecting the natural habitat.

Many residents and locals feel they have been blind-sided and those I’ve spoken to tell me that they are advocating, nationally, that all Loseley House products are not used or purchased due to the recent actions taken.

As residents who have enjoyed 30 years of access to the wonderful views towards the south on a daily basis we are devastated but we hope that the goodwill that Loseley House has offered residents and visitors in the past area will continue.