Dear Forestry England
I have been a local resident for eight years and I have been devastated and very upset to witness the mass deforestation and damage done to trails at Turf Hill and Millersford Plantation in January 2023. I have been so shocked for four reasons: the extent of the destruction, (approx. 15 hectares gone in 3 weeks) the speed at which so many trees were felled, the total lack of advance notice given at Turf Hill, Roger Penny Way, or other local car parks, and the felling of native Scots pine trees. Management of Turf Hill/Millersford inclosures seems dramatically different to other inclosures. It is the only inclosure I am aware of where the goal is to remove the inclosure entirely, despite the inclosure being created in 1830, similar to others. The management and treatment of Turf Hill/Millersford can only be described as violent and brutal, leaving behind a barren, scarred landscape. As the inclosure was removed in stages since 1985, the remaining trees became even more valued and appreciated. Heathland restoration in this area has not been successful in the last 20 years, and contrary to statements made on current boards at Turf Hill and Roger Penny Way, a major portion of the trees removed were native Scots Pine. I am contacting you in an effort to understand Forestry England’s treatment of this much loved area. I would be very appreciative if you could answer the questions below please.
1. When were the conifer trees first planted? My current understanding is that FE leased the land from the National Trust, and the conifer trees were planted in the early 1960s. Is this correct?
2. Was advance notice of the felling provided? If so, when and where?
3. I have observed on Forestry England’s interactive website www.forestergis.com , that Turf Hill/Millersford are designated as being ‘No Main Habitat.’ There are many other inclosures with this designation, where conifers are growing. Scots Pine trees offer feeding and breeding habitat for the Pine Hawk Moth in southern England, along with other ecological benefits. Please could you explain why conifers are not viewed by FE as offering habitat?
4. Are other inclosures containing conifer trees and classed as ‘No Main Habitat’ also planned to be clear felled?
5. The works are not showing up on the Public Registers of Woodland Planting and Tree Felling (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consultation-and-the-public-registers). Please can you explain where I can find more details of the licenses, the case reference number, and which statutory bodies were consulted?
6. After labour & equipment costs, what is the value of the timber that has been harvested in December 2022/January 2023 at Turf Hill/Millersford?
7. Due to heavy equipment, the two main trails have been significantly damaged, one trail is impassable. Will the trails be restored and if so, when?
8. Will Turf Hill/Millersford ever be replanted with trees? If pine seedlings grow, will FE allow these trees to grow and mature?
9. I completed a 5 hour survey of the site on 22/1/23. The majority of the trees felled that I observed, I estimate 70%, are native Scots Pine trees. Please explain why the FE boards placed at Turf Hill & Roger Penny car parks state the goal of the felling is to remove ‘non native trees.’
10. Combining walking the site and using aerial photographs from 1951 onwards, it is clear that with only two exceptions, heathland restoration undertaken over felled areas at Turf Hill/Millersford in the past 20 years have failed. I am happy to supply photographs of the bracken, gorse, turfgrass and gravel that have replaced the felled trees. Is FE aware of any reasons why heathland restoration here has been unsuccessful? Is there a habitat creation plan in place for the areas being returned to heathland?
Turf Hill/Millersford Plantation occupy a place of prominence and are the northern gateway to the New Forest. If Forestry England wishes locals and visitors to become engaged with the New Forest and support the work of Forestry England, your actions at Turf Hill/Millersford are divisive and controversial and will not obtain people’s support. Locals are outraged. We approach every winter with dread, wondering which favourite area of the New Forest will be sentenced for destruction. Neither tourists nor locals wish to visit tree cemeteries. I should note that the small and selective clearing we have observed in recent winters at Alderhill and Pitts Wood Inclosures between Godshill and Fritham seem very reasonable. They both retain the essential character of the wood and allow sunlight to penetrate the forest, encouraging new conifer growth which Forestry England is allowing to mature.
I would be very happy to meet with the Forestry England manager responsible for decisions made at Turf Hill/Millersford Plantation, to discuss these questions in person. Thank you for your response to our questions regarding this much used, prominent and loved area of the New Forest.