Tree Felling on Castle Hill Shaftesbury

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On Monday 18th February 2008 Dorset County Council's Dorset Rangers were due to fell trees around Old Brow (at the far end of Bimport) to open up the ruins of Shaftesbury Castle. Only one week's notice of the plan was given, and Shaftesbury Tree Group are not happy about it.

The reason given is that the tree roots are damaging the Scheduled Ancient Monument, Castle Hill.
"The work would also open up several viewpoints and would help put the Castle into its historical perspective."

[left: view towards Duncliffe from Castle Hill]

After decades of neglect by English Heritage and others, the site, adjacent to the garden of the now demolished 1920s house at Old Brow has suddenly become a focus of attention.

NDN has been assured that this is totally unconnected with the recent planning permission granted for replacement luxury apartments on the site, whose view over the Blackmore Vale (and consequent sale price) could be improved by the removal of the trees.

It will be interesting to see if the mature trees at the foot of the hill remain standing after the work in hand. If they do then it will be easier to believe that the timing is coincidental. It would be depressing to believe that the influence of developers could spread through the chain of local planning controls into English Heritage and Dorset County Council.

[left: Castle Hill escarpment looking west]

The Shaftesbury Tree Group believe that birds may already be nesting on the site. "It is, of course, illegal to disturb nesting birds under the Countryside & Wildlife Act and that applies to DCC and their agents too."

At the time of writing it is not clear whether the Shaftesbury Tree Group will be able to delay the felling.

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