Firm that illegally felled trees must replace them
Dorset CouncilA company that illegally felled trees in a conservation area has been told to replace them by March 2026 or face further action.
Weymouth Park Ltd was fined £30,000 by magistrates in February for breaching a felling licence after it cleared 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) of trees at Fleet Wood in Chickerell.
The fine was the largest ever secured by the Forestry Commission in an illegal felling prosecution, Dorset Council said.
It said the felling left "a significant ecological void in this cherished habitat".
Shane Bartlett, Dorset Council's cabinet member for planning, said: "Fleet Wood is a vital part of Dorset's natural heritage and its restoration is essential.
"We expect Weymouth Park Ltd to fulfil their responsibility and reinstate the woodland for the benefit of our environment and future generations.
"Dorset Council will take all necessary measures to ensure this replanting is completed."
The felling in January 2023 exceeded the Forestry Commission's permission to thin 30% of trees.
The council has ordered that hundreds of trees must be planted, including sycamore, oak, beech and wild cherry.
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