BBC1 South’s Inside Out magazine programme will be featuring the Isle of Wight tonight (Monday) from 7.30pm (catch up on iPlayer).
The programme will feature Woodhouse Copse, woodland in Whippingham that is now owned privately and has been developed as a camp site and for storing abandoned vehicles and other waste materials.
IW Ramblers: “Rural vandalism”
As OnTheWight reported earlier this year, IW CPRE say what has taken place in this ancient woodland is a form of rural vandalism and IW Ramblers say the site now resembles a shanty town and tip.
David Howarth, Vice Chairman IW Ramblers said
“We inspected this woodland in 2014 when enforcement action was taken. There has been further development since this time.
“It now resembles a shanty town and a tip.”
Chairman of IW Branch of CPRE, Alex Haig-Thomas, said,
“Woodhouse Copse is in an AONB and a part of it is SSSI. The woodland is highly prized by the local community who have a right under CROW 2002 to access it.
“Mr Kirk [the owner] has no felling or thinning licence and is being investigated for illegal dumping of waste. The CPRE stands firmly against this form of rural vandalism.”
Tune into BBC1 from 7.30pm to see the feature.
Article edit
Link to iPlayer programme added
Image: © Keila Pallares
