Janet Haylett, secretary of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) writes …
The PCC is aware of concerns about the trees in Ward’s Field and is taking steps to address these. Some of the trees need to be removed and the PCC has asked for an application to be made for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission to remove all the dead and potentially unsafe trees. This will take time but the work will start as soon as possible.
In the meantime please do not use the path through the trees as this is not an official footpath; that goes along by the west side of the stream. We have put up notices asking people not to use the path until we can be sure the trees are safe. Please be patient. Do not remove the signs and tape and do not walk through the trees. We are very much hoping to open up the path as soon as the necessary is finished.
Thank you.
This is untrue, the parallel public footpath 287/10/12 has been blocked by vegetation so is unusable. Maybe whoever is in charge of putting up tape and signs could instead get the landowner to ensure the original footpath is clear – as is their legal obligation – people wouldn’t use the path through the trees.
Until then you are legally entitled to deviate around any obstruction of a public right of way – as people are doing. In the infinitesimally small chance a tree falls on them, that’s very bad luck. Could happen to any of us walking through a forest but I wouldn’t recommend never walking through forests.