Group 'devastated' after ancient woodland damaged

Members of a group which looks after an ancient woodland in Derby said they were "devastated" after dozens of small trees were felled to create a makeshift den.

Friends of Chaddesden Wood said youths also stripped the bark from two 100-year-old oak trees, which they fear could prove fatal.

Derbyshire Police said inquiries were ongoing and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Nick Charles, the group's secretary, said: "We are absolutely devastated... we don't expect to see people doing this type of damage."

The force said it received a report on 5 April of 10 to 15 trees being felled and a den built in the Chaddesden Wood Nature Reserve.

The group said new benches recently put into the wood had also been tagged with graffiti and bluebells were trampled on.

Charles said youths had felled a number of hazel and holly trees to make the structure and added plans were in place to dismantle the den.

"Having its bark stripped is a serious matter for an oak tree," he said.

"If the entirety is taken around the tree, it will die because there is no way the moisture from the ground can get into the canopy of the tree.

"The damage is much worse than we ever could have imagined... the den has been nailed in, they've put screws in and held it all together with cable ties.

"We were absolutely devastated. Chaddesden Wood is an ancient oak wood, it's been here for over 400 years and it's a haven for nature.

"We don't expect to see people doing this type of damage in a nature reserve."

Charles added the group was still coming to terms with the damage and urged others not to fell trees in the wood.

"So many people have contacted me saying that they're absolutely disgusted by what's happened and they cannot understand who in their right mind would do something like this. It's terrible."

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