“I feel sick to my stomach” – islanders outraged over woodland loss

Saturday 24 April 2021

Islanders have expressed their outrage over the lack of protection for mature trees in Jersey after a large part of privately-owned woodland was recently cleared.

The upset was sparked after environmental campaigner Sheena Brockie posted photographs of the land and tree stumps that had previously been a leafy green area near D’Auvergne school, with the caption: “I feel sick to my stomach.

“This morning I went on a pretty little walk through a woodland I can’t remember visiting before. I was delighted by it’s steep paths lined by bluebells, the duckboards over a stream, the dappled sunlight through new leaves and the glorious bird song.

“Then this.

“I was looking forward to sharing photos with you, but not these photos.

“Utter devastation.”

She continued: “I sat on a log and felt physically sick. As though someone had punched all the air out of my lungs.

“This decimated land was recently part of the woodland. I could see at least 20 tree stumps poking up through the land, and nothing that I could see was rotten, so couldn’t see a reason for wholesale felling.”

She went on to make clear that the landowner and tree surgeons involved had done “nothing legally wrong”, adding that “morally is quite another conversation” and noting the existence of two planning applications for houses bordering the land.

“There is no protection for mature native trees in Jersey and there is nothing to stop this happening. This. Has. To. Stop!” she exclaimed.

More than 300 islanders reacted to the post - more than 170 were 'upset', while more than 115 were ‘angry’ in response.

Pictured: 100 'protected' trees have been felled since 2008.

Dozens shared their shock and dismay at the sight, with one islander describing himself as “heartbroken”, adding: “These were nature walks to benefit all age groups of the community! It’s horrible.” 

Others pointed out other parts of the island where trees and shrubbery had recently been removed, such as Fair Acre on Route Orange, after it was purchased by Dandara.

The post also grabbed the attention of Assistant Minister for Economic Development and St. Lawrence Deputy, Kirsten Morel, who wrote on Twitter: “This is devastating. Don’t open the link if you want to stay calm this evening… Jsy law means no planning permission needed nor trees protected. ‘Devastated’, ‘horrified’ don’t cover how I feel about it.”

Note - Jsy law means no planning application needed to destroy privately owned woodland.

— Kirsten Morel (@KirstenJersey) April 22, 2021

It comes just weeks after Deputy Morel grilled the Environment Minister, Deputy John Young, on what his department was doing to strengthen the protection of mature and listed trees.

In February, a local ecologist told Express that she had discovered that 30 applications had been made to fell protected trees since 2008 – none of which were refused. This resulted in close to 100 trees being felled. 

Responding to a question from Deputy Kirsten Morel relaying Jersey Trees for Life’s concerns that the current laws are “inadequate”, the Minister said that he too had been troubled by “shocking” reports of about the loss of listed trees and had therefore hoped to be able to bring new measures forward by July. However, he said that this work was now behind schedule due to “pressure” on law drafting.

Deputy Young said his system, which he now expected to be able to formally propose in September, would involve permits, and pledged that it would not be “over-bureaucratic."