Conservators fined after woman left with brain injury

Ms Leafe says she has lost a lot of her 'independence' since the incident

A body that manages a major forest in East Sussex has been fined after a couple were struck by a tree, leaving the woman with a brain injury.

Caroline Leafe, 70, was walking along a deer track in Ashdown Forest with her husband, Kenneth, and their dog, Monty, on 25 January 2023 when the pair were hit by a silver birch tree that was being felled.

The Conservators of Ashdown Forest was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £3,589.80 in costs at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 August after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

In a statement, they said: "We fully accept the findings of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation.

"We have implemented all their recommendations including and exceeding their advice on training for all staff.

"We apologise unreservedly to Mr and Mrs Leafe and continue to send our best wishes to Mrs Leafe as she continues her recovery."

The conservators had identified that a 12m (39.3ft) tree was rotting and needed to be cut down.

The tree began to fall after a forest ranger made a sink cut with a chainsaw.

As it was falling, the ranger noticed Mr and Mrs Leafe walking on the nearby deer track and attempted to warn them, but it was too late.

Caroline Leafe was walking along a deer track in Ashdown Forest with her husband and their dog when the pair were hit by a silver birch tree

Ms Leafe was left with a brain injury and hasn't been able to drive for the last year.

She also suffered a fractured collar bone, several fractured ribs and a shoulder dislocation.

In a statement, she said: “I have suffered a loss of independence and Ken has to do a lot more support to me.

“There were school children at the forest when we were there and we are relieved that our accident didn’t happen to them.”

HSE principal inspector Emma Stiles said: "Members of the public should be able to enjoy a walk in a forest without fear of being struck by a tree being felled.

"The guidance is clear on how to fell trees safely."

The Conservators of Ashdown Forest also paid a victim surcharge of £2,000.