I can post pretty pictures of nature and supply facts about bees and leave it at that and we can all feel cosy and fine and good.
Except I can't. The truth as we see it on the ground needs to be told. It's easy to fall into the trap of presuming because you encounter it on..1/13

..a daily basis that everyone realises what is going on in our countryside. But we don't think that most people do.
The following account might help.

Tuesday before last we hear two chainsaws in action - nearer than usual.
We go to investigate and observe a local thug who..2/13

is not a landowner and his three kids cutting down mature trees in a hedgerow on private land adjoining us. The landowner in question has absolutely no regard for nature and is well known for his antics.
I phone the NPWS Ranger at 3.15pm to report this.
His immediate..3/13

..reaction is to try to convince me that there is probably a reason the trees are being cut down. They probably have permission from the council. It's probably a forestry issue and nothing to do with him. I tell him no, I know these people and that won't be the case..4/13

The entire conversation he tries to make excuses not to bother getting involved.
I persist so eventually he reluctantly agrees to come over.
Turns out he's in a forest 5 minutes away.
At this stage we reckoned two trees had been felled.
Around 4pm my wife phones the ranger..5/13

as he has not yet arrived. Remember he's 5 minutes away and has been advised that mature trees are being felled. Again he makes every excuse he can for this felling to be allowable without any first hand knowledge. Again he says he'll be over.
Another hour and a half pass.
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Five more trees fall.
Now when we phone him it rings out. No answer. We persist. We're not going away.
I get a text message at 5.33pm from the ranger. His phone had supposedly gone down and he had had to return to his office. Are they still there?
I tell him yes.
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When will I see you?
His response.
I don't need to see you. Just ‘the lads’ as what they're doing probably isn't illegal.
I persist. No bother I tell him. I'll meet you on the lane.
Funnily enough he arrives around 5 minutes later. So his office is the same distance away..8/13

as the forest he was in when he took the original call? It's not.
The ‘lads’ (not perpetrators or suspects - it's all in the language) are gone.
He goes through the motions. Despite the evidence in front of him - trees having been obviously illegally felled he continues to..9/13

come up with any possible scenario to extradite himself from having to get involved. His lack of enthusiasm is incredible. His inability to give us straight answers worrying.
I point out that had he come when first called at least 5 mature trees would still be standing. 10/13

My impression from his responses and demeanour: he could give a shit. Probably hanging in there for his pension.
Now I understand the law’s an ass in this area. I know the NPWS is stretched. I have spoken with good people who are rangers. This isn't a swipe at the NPWS.
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I have talked to the County Council about this.
My take:
People can do what they want in the countryside. There is no one to protect nature. What laws exist are a sick joke. Everyone is covering their arse and the people we have engaged who should be doing something aren't..12/13

..due to frustration, jadedness, ineptitude or a fatal combination of all three.

Just thought you might like to know.

As we stand. Nature’s fucked. Which means we're all fucked. And I'm pissed about that.

Sorry for being so negative but weary of the pretence.

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