Magic Trees!

These trees should be preserved for their magical powers alone! On the 21st June 2008 they moved themselves from the Riverside Unit to "Woodland at Blackberry Hill" (which is actually Grove Wood) in planning application 08/02173/DC. Was this another 'genuine' mistake?

Bottom Image : 21st June 2008

Healthy Trees Turned Into Logs

Many perfectly healthy young and mature trees were illegally felled and piled up along the river bank when the land was initially cleared in January 2008.

Photo : 7th June 2008

Map 1 - Title Plan BL64497

The boundary of the seventeen acres of natural woodland lying along the south side of the River Frome, part registered as ancient woodland with Natural England.

After The Mini Digger

Looking West, this is how the land looked after the mini digger.
Photo : 30th January 2008

Before The Mini Digger

Looking East, this is how the land looked before the mini digger.

Photo : January 2008

River Bank In January 2008

The wood turned into debris and piled up along the river bank.
Photo : 30th January 2008

Felled Tree Trunk Widths

The widths of different healthy trees which should not have been felled. All trees within conservation areas with a trunk diameter of 75mm measured at 1.5m above ground level are supposed to be protected by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and its Tree Regulations 1999.
Photo : 30th January 2008

Tree 6 - Buried Stump

The stump of this healthy tree was buried among the rubble.

Photo : 30th January 2008

Tree 5 - Mature Stump

This mature tree should not have been felled under the land's conservation status. At their widest the stumps measure 500mm and 250mm in diameter.
Photo : 16th June 2008

Tree 4 - Young Stump

With a diameter between 150mm and 100mm, this should not have been felled as young trees are important for the wood's regeneration.

Photo : 16th June 2008

Digging Up A Bank

This is what a mini digger can do. The earth was then illegally dumped along the river bank, ruining the habitat for protected species including otters and kingfishers. Was this an attempt to start leveling the land?

Photo : 16th June 2008

Wood Clearance

If you go down to the woods today... there isn't any wood!
Photo : 16th June 2008

Wood Clearance

The wood beside the roadside cleared for possible development.

Photo : 16th June 2008

Young Trees Destroyed

This is how the wood beside the roadside was before being cleared of saplings and young trees, reducing the natural habitat. Is the Council allowing this thinning out process?

Photo : November 2007

Council - No Replacement Trees

This exempts the landowner from replacing numerous trees which were illegally felled in this conservation area. Again, permission was granted retrospectively - planning application 08/00661/VD. This means there will be no new tree canopy to replace the existing trees in years to come, let alone a wood!

Letter : 4th March 2008

Tree 3 - Marked For Felling

A live Hawthorn marked for felling. Send your objections to Bristol City Council (Planning Department) to save this and other trees. Involve other organisations in order to get the trees protected!

Photo : 12th June 2008

Digger Delivery

Was this an attempt to do more ground works or 'accidentally' knock down some more trees?

Photo : 10th June 2008

Planning Application 08/02173/VC

The planning application to fell numerous trees along the roadside incorrectly sited the trees in neighbouring land. These magnificent trees should be protected by Tree Preservation Orders and possibly thinned if they are considered dangerous.

Photo : 7th June 2008

Tree 2 - Root Base

A tree of similar age and within yards of Tree 1 which didn't split its trunk but pulled up its root base, probably as a result of high winds.

Photo : 10th June 2008

Tree 1 - Whole Canopy In River

The whole tree canopy blocks the River Frome as well as the daily flight path of numerous kingfishers. Other trees have also mysteriously fallen down.

Photo : 10th June 2008

Tree 1 - Split Trunk

The trunk split a few feet up from the ground in what appears to be a perfectly healthy tree on loose ground. Is this tree sabotage as there appear to be no natural causes like disease or high winds?

Photo : 10th June 2008

Tree 1 - Blocking The Footpath

A large tree blocks the public right of way. Could this be another attempt to restrict public access?

Photo : 10th June 2008

Public Access Restricted

The wood includes a short driveway which has been blocked off although its been walked through for many years.

Photo : 8th June 2008

Public Access Restricted

The landowner blocks off a path which has been used for generations, even though it appears on maps. People are in the process of getting this categorised as a public right of way. The top path and riverside path are public rights of way but the landowner has been trying to frighten people away.

Photo : 8th June 2008

River Bank In June 2008

Wood, shale, earth and other debris piled up along the massive stretch of the river bank, thus radically altering the natural habitat for otters and other protected species. Could this be the beginnings of a dam to assist a future planning application?

Photo : 7th June 2008

Fire, Hut & Sign

Fires have been regularly burning in this conservation area which many people think are an attempt to smoke out the bats. If the landowner is allowed to clear the wildlife and protected species it will be easier to get planning permission to build on the site.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

Fire & Smoke

Smoke disturbs bats which are a protected species. The activity of strimming and removal of undergrowth scares away wildlife, reptiles and small mammals which are also a food source for other animals, including mice which are eaten by owls.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

Portacabin Is Hardly Used

This portacabin was put in the woods on 30th May 2008. The Council initially said any building, even a temporary one, would need planning permission but retrospectively granted consent. This disregards the public amenity of the woods as well as making a mockery of planning law.

Photo : 30th May 2008

Workman's Vehicle

The workman's vehicle which has been parked in the wood without planning permission.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

Landowner's Vehicle

The landowner's vehicle which has been parked and driven through the wood without planning permission.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

The Wood Bulldozed

The initial assault on the wood in January 2008, presumably to try to take advantage of less public presence - just one month after the land was bought at auction for £39,000.

Photo : 26th January 2008