'Tree felling plan will destroy vibrant habitat'

Campaigners Doug Parr and Lynne Deeley are not happy with the plans to cut down trees at Sutton Heath

Campaigners who fear the felling of a Suffolk woodland could be "imminent" have accused council bosses of not caring about the environment.

East Suffolk Council was granted permission by Forestry England to cut down two hectares of mainly Scots pine trees at Sutton Heath in Woodbridge.

The authority wants to convert the area into heathland to make it a more "ecologically valuable" site.

However, some residents believe the felling will "destroy a beautiful, vibrant habitat".

Residents also fear changes to Sutton Heath will destroy essential footpaths

"[The woodland] is extremely valuable to people of all ages and is precious to local people and those outside the area who come to use it," said Lynne Deeley.

"It was donated for public enjoyment and is very well used, but the council do things on an arbitrary basis and I don’t think they care to be honest."

The campaigners claim the land, which is owned by the council, should not be designated as heathland because it is a mostly wooded area.

Consultation

Doug Parr, another resident strongly opposed to the plan, said the group had consulted experts.

The council would end up destroying a "beautiful, vibrant habitat" in favour of one that was not sustainable, he said.

"Our message remains the same: Stop the felling, open up proper consultation and carry out an impact assessment. This should be done for nature and for the people."

East Suffolk Council said the work was essential to arrest a "steep decline of certain wildlife species" and "habitats lost to self-sewn pine trees over the last century".

A spokesperson said the numbers of "ground breeding birds" increased following heathland restoration in 2010 and 2016.

The size of the land earmarked for felling was also reduced in 2012, they added.

"Local residents and users of the heath can be assured any oak trees will be left untouched, as will interspersed pine and birch, to improve the wildlife value," they said.