Dorset Council issues formal demand for Chickerell wood replanting
Weymouth Park Ltd were fined in February for illegal felling at Fleet Wood
A formal demand has been issued by Dorset Council for a wooded area at Chickerell to be replanted.
Illegal felling of trees covering 0.6 hectares was carried out at Fleet Wood in January 2023, by Weymouth Park Ltd.
They were fined £30,000 by Weymouth Magistrates Court in February 2025 for breaching a felling licence.
Dorset Council's latest action aims to restore the ecological integrity of the area, which is fully protected by a Tree Preservation Order.
The plan specifies planting 1,100 trees per hectare, including sycamore, oak, beech, wild cherry, small-leaved lime.
The authority has given Weymouth Park Ltd until the end of the planting season, March 2026, to complete the replanting.
If these steps are not undertaken, Dorset Council will take further action to ensure compliance.
Cllr Shane Bartlett, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, said: "Fleet Wood is a vital part of Dorset's natural heritage, and its restoration is essential.
"We expect Weymouth Park Ltd to fulfil their responsibility and reinstate the woodland for the benefit of our environment and future generations. Dorset Council will take all necessary measures to ensure this replanting is completed."