Sudden removal of swathe of trees and plants from woodland in Sturmer, near Haverhill, condemned
The removal of a large swathe of trees, hedgerow and other wildlife habitat during bird nesting season from an area of woodland near Haverhill has caused upset.
The work is being carried out on a 2.3-acre piece of woodland between the A1017 at the entrance to Sturmer and the railway walk, which connects Haverhill to the village.
The woodland was brought in April 2022 by Sturmer resident Kieran Jackson who, in May 2023 had a planning application to create a new vehicular access on to the site, to carry out tree maintenance, approved by Braintree District Council.
The land has since been listed as a potential site for development in the Braintree district local plan.
Sturmer resident Permjit Rai said of the land’s clearance: “We are devastated to see the woodland being completely demolished over the last three weeks.
“This has been a huge loss to the habitats of the woodland (glow worms, hornets, bats, barn owls, badgers) plus the plants, such as bluebells and orchids, most of which are protected species.
Braintree District Councillor Diana Garrod, who represents The Bumpsteads ward (in which Sturmer falls) and lives nearby, was also upset.
She said: “Tree felling and clearance began on March 5 while spring begins, birds start nesting and wildlife generally start their reproductive cycle.”
The loss of the woodland and wildlife habitat, which Cllr Garrod said included a pond lived in by toads, a species that mates in March and April, comes a few months after work was carried out to clear a large area of woodland just a short walk away, which led to wildlife migrating to the area now also being cleared.
Cllr Garrod said: “In the week the Government announced plans to plant 20 million trees across the west of England, I have seen this woodland cleared of most of its trees and ground clearance that has destroyed habitats, plants and flowers.
“The tree canopy in the Bumpstead ward is much lower that the UK average and lets the rest of the Braintree district down. Our woodland landscape is disappearing rapidly.
“I would like to see both Braintree and West Suffolk Councils put a green buffer into their local plans to prevent coalescence between Sturmer and Haverhill.”
Cllr Gabrielle Spray, cabinet member for planning at Braintree District Council, said: “Planning permission was granted to create access to the site and was not seeking consent for any specific works to trees or the woodland.
“It is for the landowner to ensure they have any necessary licence in place prior to undertaking any work and these are granted by the Forestry Commission as opposed to the council.
“We are aware the Forestry Commission is investigating this matter in addition to the council’s enforcement team.
“The site has been put forward through the call for sites exercise as part of the local plan review which is currently being assessed, together with all other sites that have been put forward.
“No decisions or recommendations have been made on these sites yet and they will be referred to our local plan sub-committee meetings due to start in the summer.”
Sturmer Parish Council’s minutes from a site meeting it had with Mr Jackson in May 2024 said: “Proposed removal of 70 dead trees, following thorough survey of the ecology of site, intention to turn land into wildlife reserve area.”
They also said: “Work not to occur during bird nesting season. Assurances given that the area is to remain a piece of woodland/wildlife sanctuary in perpetuity.”
A Forestry Commission spokesperson said: “The Forestry Commission is aware of a report of alleged illegal felling of trees on this site and is conducting a review to assess whether there have been any breaches of the Forestry Act.
“As this is an ongoing matter, we cannot comment further on the progress of this case at this time.”
Mr Jackson was approached for comment.
