This is the opinion of a very well respected Oxford University ecologist, following a recent visit to Piles Coppice.

His report compares the wood with a thesis written in the 1990s, shortly after the Woodland Trust purchased the wood and woodland expert Oliver Rackham told them how very important it was.

The report indicates that the wood has changed very little in the last 20+ years. It is not declining and very few of the trees are failing.

The flora species are good for the type of soil and the 'high forest', so important for some of the wildlife, is also providing contrast to the surrounding area.

There is little justification for felling or coppicing trees and the recommendation is to “continue with the minimum intervention of previous decades.”

This is of course what we, other ecologists, some local experts, some members of the Ancient Tree Forum and the CPRE and now nearly 1900 of you have been trying to say.

If the planned felling programme goes ahead, the habitat of many rare species will be lost and this much loved wood will be changed for ever.

Thank you all for your ongoing support and here is a question:-

Some of you will recognise the Small-leaved Lime tree in the photograph, it is one of the biggest in the wood. We have recently learned that a mature Small-leaved Lime with a single trunk can store up to 7,500kg of carbon, even more in a woodland. This tree has 17 trunks and all the Limes they plan to fell are multi-stems. If these trees are felled, how much stored carbon will be lost and released to add to climate change?