Wash Common and Newbury residents outraged by potentially illegal destruction of Park House School hedge on Monks Lane

Wash Common residents have been up in arms about the potentially illegal destruction of a large hedge on the boundary of Park House School.

The sizable hedgerow running along the secondary school’s boundary on Monks Lane opposite Sutherlands was destroyed to make way for a new fence during the half term break.

However, many believe this could have been an illegal act as the hedge could have contained nesting birds.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 — the law that protects nesting birds and their eggs — it is illegal to intentionally damage or destroy a bird’s nest while it’s being used or built.

Newbury’s Green Party parliamentary candidate Steve Masters was informed by several Wash Commoners of the hedge removal and after inspecting the site last Thursday, he reported the incident to the police.

“It was pretty serious in terms of it being in the middle of nesting season,” he said.

“Destroying a hedge is not necessarily illegal in and of itself, the destruction of active nests is.”

Thames Valley Police confirmed that they received a report of wildlife crime (crime reference 43240255944), stating “A hedgerow with nesting and fledgling birds inside was taken down in Sutherlands sometime between 9am on May 27 and 7pm on May 29.”

Susan Millington is the coordinator for Friends of the Earth Newbury, a local environmental group, and said she was outraged to discover the hedge had been destroyed.

Dr Millington added: “What's left is a scene of devastation.

“A few isolated torn trees and lots of litter on bare ground is all that remains of a beautiful mature hedge.

“I am completely appalled at the timing, peak bird nesting season.

“There can be little doubt that the length of hedge destroyed by their contractors contained many active bird nests, and will have sheltered many other species too.”

Dr Millington contacted Park House to get an explanation, and headteacher James King stated that the school was “equally saddened to return to school and discover what has happened to the hedge”.

Mr King added that the removal of the hedge was never included in the school’s plans, and that the school had waited for planning permission to install the new fence in order to avoid damaging the existing greenery.

He provided a statement from Park House’s contractors Barker about the hedge works and fence installation it carried out and how it would be undertaking work to rectify the damage caused.

The statement read, in part: “Safeguarding of the pupils and staff at Park House School is our top priority in the work we do there.

“Unfortunately, the existing low-level chain-link fencing along the boundary of Monks Lane did not provide sufficient protection for the pupils at Park House School, raising serious concerns about unauthorised access to their site.

“This left us with no option but to replace this boundary entirely with new full-height secure fencing.

“During this process, we consulted with an approved arboricultural consultancy as we were committed to retaining the trees and as much of the existing planting as possible.

“However, as works commenced, it became apparent that the section of established hedging had grown entwined within the existing chain link that was to be removed.

“Consequently, we made the reluctant decision to remove this hedging.

“We have plans to reinstate it at the earliest possible opportunity to provide screening for both the pupils and residents, as well as to maintain valued natural habitats for birds and wildlife.”

Several Wash Commoners have taken to social media to criticise the hedge removal.

Russ Shackleton said: “I just don’t understand why this was done.

“The hedge was a secure boundary for the school and it gave a lot more privacy than that ugly fence.

“You have to question the effectiveness of the governance of the multi-academy trust indeed. How many of the board have been to that school?”

Lynn Beasant said: “This is a total disgrace. No need to remove a hedge at all, let alone in nesting season.

“If they needed a fence up it could have gone inside of the hedgerow if they really needed to contain the kids that badly.”

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Lee Dillon also took to Facebook to post about the hedge, stating: “The loss of this hedgerow is such a disappointment for nature.”