Ancient Linchmere woodland 'disturbed, damaged and destroyed' in pond renovation

An ancient woodland in Linchmere has been 'destroyed' in renovation works that took place prior to a planning application.
By Joe Stack
Published 21st Feb 2019, 12:26 BST
Updated 21st Feb 2019, 13:34 BST
Peat was removed from the site to be reused. SDNP/18/05568/FULPeat was removed from the site to be reused. SDNP/18/05568/FUL
Peat was removed from the site to be reused. SDNP/18/05568/FUL
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A planning application was submitted retrospectively (SDNP/18/05568/FUL) but was refused by South Downs National Park planning authority on the grounds that it would lead to the loss of 'significant amount' of ancient woodland and no exceptional circumstances had been identified by the applicant to justify its loss.

The pond prior to being refilledThe pond prior to being refilled
The pond prior to being refilled

Hilary Adair said she was 'deeply concerned' by the renovation. She said: "As a result of the recent works, the site has been irrevocably altered – disturbed, damaged and ultimately destroyed.

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"Since no previous appraisal of any sort was undertaken, this ‘natural state’ is pure conjecture based on an entirely subjective and unsubstantiated opinion of what is ‘natural’, or what constitutes natural habitat on this site."