Madam,

I am writing to express my concern at the destruction of an ancient Celtic woodland by the National Trust. This beautiful woodland is in a Conservation area and an area of SSI and therefore needs to be cherished, protected and safeguarded as a matter of urgency.

This is especially true in this time of ecological crisis with the challenges and threats the planet now faces with rapid and accelerated climate change.

As we are all increasingly aware, trees are the lungs of the planet and vital for the well-being and flourishing of all human and animal life. Given this context, cutting down more trees can only be described as wantonly destructive.

The National Trust’s proposal to cut down trees to provide a ‘corridor’ to protect a rare butterfly is short-sighted and misguided.

It cannot reasonably and justifiably threaten so many other species in the pursuit of the protection of just one. This can only be considered globally irresponsible as these plans would threaten the long-term survival of a whole range of fauna and flora who inhabit this majestic woodland and where there exists a delicate and fragile ecosystem, easily destroyed.

To take but one example, the oak tree, of which there are many in the Cwm Soden woodland, has over 284 insects which inhabit and rely upon it for their existence.

It supports 324 lichens and thus feeds an abundant range of birds, including many threatened and declining species such as wood-peckers, tree-creepers, nuthatches, long-tailed tits, to name but a few, who depend upon and seek its protection to survive.

Whilst we commend the protection of this lovely butterfly, the protection of one species cannot realistically be undertaken at the expense of a range of other species, equally precious. This woodland has been sadly neglected by the trust for many years before it embarked on this programme of destruction, allowing ragwort and other invasive species to take over many of the meadows.

The trust has already damaged the beauty and tranquillity of this woodland and caused considerable destruction by already felling many trees, the screech of the chain-saw causing distress and upheaval to this place of rare beauty and peace.

With the Brazilian rainforests currently under obscene attack and destruction by Bolansaro, the National Trust and ultimately Ceredigion council will be accountable by future generations, for a similar programme of irreversible destruction of one of our native Celtic Rainforest if it fails to act to protect this woodland now.

To condone the cutting down of any more trees in this precious and ancient woodland would not only alienate and outrage a large community of local residents and activists who cherish this landscape but would be globally irresponsible and fool-hardy.

Yours etc, Rebecca Bell, Nanternis, New Quay.

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