Addington Hills Chainsaw Massacre

This is the picture of utter devastation that greeted visitors to lower, northern section of Addington Hills recently. Where have all the trees gone?

No more secret passageways through the woods, no unofficial footpaths remain that have been carved by numerous visitors through the years. It feels a lot less secluded. You now see down to the oaks road that runs parallel to the wood.

view of trees yet to be culled

Turn 180 degrees on same spot

Is there any justification for the carnage? Well actually yes there is. The ancient oak trees were being squeezed not by triffids but by fast growing birch, rowan and holly as the notice from the Council below explains. It had been retrieved from a muddy bank  blown there by recent storms Doris and Ewan.

It will be interesting to see if the oak pollard restoration extends as far as the other end where the wood meets the tram tracks. Of course, you will be kept posted of any further developments.

I can see the wood now the rain has gone. For how much longer will this view remain?