Tree Felling Has Caused ‘Stomach-churning’ Distress, Parish Council Told

Published on: 10 May, 2025
Updated on: 10 May, 2025

Part of Bummoor Copse that has been clear felled.

By Martin Giles

Unhappy Compton residents are continuing to criticise the Loseley Estate for the felling of many trees, including scores of slow-growing oaks, in Bummoor Copse.

Villagers, while appreciating that the copse is owned by Loseley Estate, have grown used to enjoying it as a natural amenity, especially at this time of year when the bluebells are out.

Particular concerns have been expressed about the lack of prior consultation with the parish council and villagers, and the timing of the clearance during the bird nesting season and while the bluebells were in bloom.

The copse has been a haven for native flora and fauna.

Responding to Compton Parish Council, Loseley Estate said that they had “obtained silvicultural and general advice from several experienced contractors on the most sensible actions to take in the woodlands, particularly as a result of comments that have been made about the poplar and ash trees [some of which are believed to be suffering from disease including ash die-back] both by professionals and the public…

“It would be appreciated if generational forestry work such as this were respected rather than questioned under an air of suspected impropriety.”

This morning Belinda Sartori spoke of behalf of residents who have expressed concern (apologies for low volume, you may need to turn your volume setting up) …

Areas of the copse have been completely cleared but a response to local MP Sir Jeremy Hunt in April shows that a licence was granted for the “clear felling” of part of the copse.

Forestry Commission response to Jeremy Hunt

Sir Jeremy told the Dragon in an interview on May 7 that the Forestry Commission were going to visit the site to ensure that the felling activity was in compliance with licences granted.

Surrey Police are also understood to be re-checking that no laws have been broken.

An extract from the Forestry Commission letter to Sir Jeremy detailing the legislation with which the felling at Bummoor Copse should comply.

In an emotional statement, read out at Wednesday’s Compton Parish Council meeting, Catherine Masterman said there had been “a deep emotional reaction of stomach-churning distress – prompting tears from children and adults alike – in essence it has been experienced as a bereavement.

“Such a quintessentially English woodland glade would have sheltered many UK species currently under stress. It would have provided food, water and shelter for many species that we saw, many that we didn’t see and many who relied on it as a connection to another habitat.

there has been no meaningful dialogue about legitimate concerns, or even attempts to understand how people felt about the woodland…” Resident

“We are told that the area will be regenerated but [the authorities] can’t command the starlings, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, purple orchids, English bluebells, badgers and countless other species to take up residence.”

Part of the copse shows what it was like before the felling operation commenced.

Catherine Masterman said that coupled with the bereavement was “a sense of betrayal of trust” and that there had been “no meaningful dialogue about legitimate concerns, or even attempts to understand how people felt about the woodland to be managed.”

She added: “It is hard to trust that the views of the community or the collective nature of our local heritage are viewed with any importance.

“We are left bewildered about what could have or will protect the health of the
ecosystem as a whole?”

The statement attracted applause from, it appeared, all the approximately 70 attendees.

A statement from Loseley Estate, in response to emails from the parish council, was also read out. It said:

• We are aware of some local opinions regarding the forestry works which have been taking place for several weeks in Bummoor Copse
• The works are privately funded works on private land, but nevertheless knowing changes could be obvious to locals, and that there is a designated public footpath within the woodland, we did take some reasonable steps to notify local residents via site signage before the work started.  We also contacted Guildford Borough Council, who stated that they would contact the residents of Spiceall
• Over a period of several years prior to the work starting we obtained silvicultural and general advice from several experienced contractors on the most sensible actions to take in the woodlands, particularly as a result of comments that have been made about the poplar and ash trees both by professionals and the public

It would be appreciated if generational forestry work such as this were respected rather than questioned under an air of suspected impropriety” Loseley Estate

• The bluebells will recover and the forested canopy will return again in years to come
• All necessary consents are believed to have been obtained
• Following the removal from site of extracted timber, there will be something of a tidy up exercise by the contractors to satisfy the landowner.  We did not notice anything significant affecting Polsted or Withies Lanes on a recent site visit but these will be reviewed towards the end of the project
• It would be appreciated if generational forestry work such as this were respected rather than questioned under an air of suspected impropriety.  The works have principally been an exercise in finding an affordable and lawful method to manage health and safety risks posed by diseased, dying or over mature trees in wet woodland near high confluence areas, which are also species that can pose significant challenges when working on them.

Stacked timber (oak in the foreground) at the footpath entrance to Bummoor Copse. The footpath sign has disappeared.

After the parish council meeting, one older resident volunteered to The Dragon that she felt it was a great shame that the relationship between the estate and the village, which had been good, had deteriorated so much.

The Loseley Estate has been contacted by The Guildford Dragon NEWS inviting comment but there has been no response.

See also: Compton Residents Are Angry and Upset Over Tree Felling and Concerns Grow over Tree Felling on Loseley Estate During Bird-nesting Season

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