Reassurances given after Wellhead Wood tree felling

Concerns have been raised by Westbury residents after trees were felled at Wellhead Wood, prompting local councillor Gordon King to seek answers from the Forestry Commission.

Cllr King said he was contacted by several residents worried that the felling might threaten the future of the woodland. He wrote to the Forestry Commission to establish whether the landowner had applied for permission to harvest trees and if there were requirements for replanting to ensure sustainability.

“The felling of trees, especially in a county with such a minimal tree cover of just 14 per cent, is a highly emotive issue,” said Cllr King. “Residents were right to be concerned.”

Cllr King reported his actions at a meeting of Westbury Town Council on Monday 1st September, and said fellow councillors were “similarly shocked” by the lack of clarity around the situation.

However, the following day he received confirmation from the Forestry Commission that an application had been made in 2024, and that it had been assessed and approved under the 1969 Forestry Act. The application also included conditions requiring the replanting of indigenous trees.

Cllr King said he was reassured by the commission’s explanation. “I was delighted and could immediately see the reason for the harvest, which are acceptable to me,” he said.

“However, what is not acceptable to me is that the commission might think it adequate for such a harvest to be advertised on a website for a maximum of five days with no requirement for local advertising, by the applicant, in the local press such as White Horse News. If they had, both I and the local population could be alerted and better informed.

“If they had thought about this thoroughly, so much anger and exasperation might have been saved. This was not their finest hour.”