The owners of a Nottingham industrial park have been ordered to plant more than 350 trees after being found to have illegally felled dozens last year. Residents in Bar Lane, Old Basford, have described the restocking notice, issued by the Forestry Commission, as a "community win".
Bar Lane Industrial Park, owned by Meadow Lane Services, sparked outrage in May last year after felling around 70 mature trees on its perimeter. It was described as "barbaric" by local residents, who started a petition that attracted almost 1,000 signatures.
Almost one year on, following an investigation by the Forestry Commission, the owners were found to have chopped down the trees without a felling license. The government department said the industrial park owners must therefore plant no fewer than 365 trees, consisting of 11 types including oak, birch, wild cherry, holly, Leyland cypress and rowan.
Read more: Old Basford residents launch petition after 'barbaric' tree felling
The industrial park will be required to plant the full amount of trees and maintain them for around 10 years under the restocking notice. Failure to comply may result in an enforcement notice, which could further lead to a fine if not obeyed, the Forestry Commission said.
Speaking after the decision, one resident, Lisa Black, said it was "great news". The 55-year-old told Nottinghamshire Live: "All we wanted was for reparation for the damage that has been done. We just hope the owners comply but it's a step in the right direction.
"It's a community victory, a real positive that has come out of it is that it has pulled the community together. It just demonstrates that the environment matters to all of us. We can't change what's been done, all we can do is try to rebuild for the future generations.
"It will take a while for the trees to establish. I might not see them but my grandchildren will." Amardeep Barmi, who also lives in Bar Lane, added: "I think the owner of the property should learn from this. All the greenery is gone and now we can just see asbestos.
"We are happy we have been heard." A spokesperson for the Forestry Commission said: “We can confirm that trees were felled at Bar Lane Industrial Park in Basford without a felling licence, in contravention of the provisions of the Forestry Act 1967. A restocking notice was issued for this site by the Forestry Commission on 17 March 2022.
“No fewer than 365 trees must be planted, comprised of oak, birch, wild cherry, holly, Leyland cypress, field maple, sycamore, hybrid poplar, willow species, atlas cedar and rowan." Bar Lane Industrial Park declined to comment.
