Police are probing why willow trees planted as part of Prince William’s reforestation project were deliberately poisoned. The trees are located in a fenced enclosure on an area of common land and a site of special scientific interest, known as the Forest of Dartmoor, on Duchy of Cornwall land.
Willows had been chosen to prevent the erosion of the site’s peaty soils and reduce flood risk. However, these trees have been singled out and attacked. They are believed to have been killed with a herbicide, which experts believe to be glyphosate. A Natural England spokesperson told The Guardian that an investigation had been launched.
A spokesperson for the South West Peatland Partnership called the incident “an attack on those that live, work, enjoy and rely on these landscapes”.
The full statement read: “Any use of herbicide on the common land and legally protected habitats of Dartmoor is an attack on those that live, work, enjoy, and rely on these landscapes.”
Guy Shrubsole, the author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain, described the attack as an “outrageous act of sabotage, one which points a dagger at the heart of efforts to restore nature in this part of the country”.
The Duchy of Cornwall voiced its disappointment after the news emerged.
Emma Magee, its head of communities and nature, said: “We are committed to working with our partners to secure a better future for Dartmoor, and this recent action does not represent the collective commitment of Dartmoor’s community to achieve this. Woodland expansion alongside peatland restoration is central to a restored landscape across Dartmoor.”
It was just a couple of months a go that the new restoration project was launched by the Duchy of Cornwall, of which William is the owner, and Central Dartmoor Landscape Recovery Project (CDLR) in order to “create a resilient environment” and meet the changing needs of Dartmoor’s communities.
In the summer, William, who is known as the Duke of Cornwall when he visits the area, met with Duchy tenant farmers and spoke with members of the South West Peatland Partnership and the chair of Natural England.
During the visit Prince William warned that restoring nature and tackling global warming are key to keeping it “special”.
The Prince of Wales said that to “keep Dartmoor special we must respond to the twin challenges of global warming and the requirement to restore nature”.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
