They have recently published this statement on their website.

https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/news/our-plans-piles-coppice 

The title is printed across a photograph of beautiful bluebells and we know, from other woods, that their proposed action will replace this glorious display with brambles and bracken. 

They say they will be helping nature recover and are protecting wildlife. Nature is doing very well indeed in Piles Coppice and we know their plans will actually destroy wildlife.

Yes, this wood was coppiced for hundreds of years, but we believe that having not been coppiced for the last 100 is the reason it is so rich in biodiversity and now has rare mature trees that have been lost in other woods. It certainly does not lack variety of habitat. Where is their evidence?

Just because something was done in the past, should not mean it has to be done in the future. Anyway, their proposals are not for hand-cutting of coppice stems for use as poles, etc. they are for machine felling of precious ancient trees for financial gain.

Many of the trees in Piles Coppice are mature, but they are by no means even aged as claimed and there is evidence of regeneration and younger trees where natural space has occurred.

Trees do not die at the same rate and gradual loss allows natural regeneration while maintaining the existing ground flora. How do the Trust know what was there hundreds of years ago?

We have found evidence and records dating back around 50 years which show that the wood has not changed in that time, if anything, the biodiversity has increased and the wonderful ground flora has spread.

The rare wildlife that has been recorded is not at risk, it is actually flourishing. Perhaps that is why the wood was given a Tree Preservation Order around 30 years ago. This protection should continue.

The Trust say they are following Government forestry guidelines. But the Tree Preservation Regulations 2012 state :-

(3) Where an application relates to an area of woodland, the authority shall grant consent so far as accords with the practice of good forestry, unless they are satisfied that the granting of consent would fail to secure the maintenance of the special character of the woodland or the woodland character of the area.

Surely this applies to Piles Coppice?

A number of people who have sent complaints to the Trust have told us that they have promised a public consultation. Thanks to your support, they already know that over 1300 people are objecting to their plans.