Homeowners trying to improve their sea views are being blamed for a spate of attacks on protected trees in the affluent seaside town of Poole.
Dorset Police are investigating the latest incident in which one surprised resident was woken by the sound of a chainsaw bringing a 40ft Scots pine in his garden crashing to the ground.
Steve Bransgrove dashed outside in his boxer shorts at 2am on Sunday when he realised something was wrong but the phantom feller had already escaped. “I was asleep when I heard about four or five loud revs and I thought it was kids on mopeds at first,” he said.
“Then there was the biggest crash in the world that rattled the wardrobe doors. I thought a lorry had rolled over outside. I looked out of the window and couldn’t see anything until my neighbour turned his outside light on and I then saw the tree lying on its side.”
Poole Borough Council and police believe residents have been responsible for eight attacks on mature trees obscuring sea views. Tens of thousands of pounds can be added to the value of homes in the areas of Sandbanks, Canford Cliffs and Branksome Park if they have a view of Poole Harbour. Some of the attacks have been subtle, with one involving poison being poured into a cut in the trunk.
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Officers and council officials have begun an inquiry and are due to speak to people who would appear to gain from the loss of the tree. Andy Dearing, a planning enforcement officer, said: “I am shocked at the audacity of someone who can enter a private property in the middle of the night to do this. Of course we will look at the possible motives behind this, with the main one being that it was done to enhance the offender’s sea views.”
Mr Bransgrove’s pine was the subject of a preservation order and had a nest full of eggs. Felling a tree subject to such an order can incur a £20,000 fine.