THE owner of an ancient woodland has been criticised for causing “devastation” by building a cabin without permission and allowing horses to graze – potentially damaging trees.

Biggs Copse, in Shedfield, changed hands in June last year when the house it belongs to, Red House in Botley Road, was sold.

Last Wednesday, Winchester City Council’s planning committee confirmed a Tree Protection Order (TPO) after the landowner, whose name is not known, has been carrying out work to the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

Case officer Ivan Gurdler said: “Biggs Copse is a very good example of ancient woodland with lots of ancient woodland indicators which are the plants to show they have been there for many years.

“The history to the woodland has been a construction of a log cabin in the woodland without permission, there has been trenching across the woodland to the cabin for drainage, we’ve had construction vehicles driving through the woodland to get to the log cabin driving on tree routes, parking within the woodland, horses disturbing the soil exposing the tree routes and the tipping of horse manure.”

Mr Gurdler told the committee that there has been compaction of land by construction vehicles, as well as the horses and donkeys which have been able to graze – causing damage to the trees and plans on the woodland floor.

The owner’s work has come under fire from residents and parish council, who spoke at the meeting in support of the TPO.

Woodland neighbour Jo Harvey said: “It’s evident the wildlife has been disturbed as the natural sounds have lessened to be replaced by mechanical work of some sort. I’m deeply upset as my love of nature and the wildlife has bought me here today to try and preserve the woodland and potentially reverse the devastation potentially being caused to this once beautiful and undisturbed ancient woodland.”

Mrs Harvey was supported by Shedfield tree warden Peter Miller and parish councillor Francesca Byrne who called on the council to “safeguard the site for the future”.

Cllr Byrne said: “Red House and Biggs Copse until recently have been under the stewardship of the family who have respected and protected this ancient woodland for over 50 years. Our parish council had no concerns regarding its safety and management during their ownership, however since new ownership in June 2020 we were made aware of builders with machinery within the copse, more recently the owners has allowed horses and donkeys within the woodland this ancient woodland is important to Shedfield.”

The landowner’s agent told the council that “it was not expedient to serve the TPO” as it is not located in a conservation area, and was covered by the Forestry Act, but Mr Gurlder said this act still allows for around 25 trees a year to be taken out.

The committee was told that the work is currently subject to enforcement action, which has stopped the building of the cabin and remove the horse manure by hand.