Dozens of ancient woods under threat of destruction in Sussex

The Woodland Trust revealed 56 woods in Sussex, all more than 400 years old, are at risk of being bulldozed for planned developments.

The trust is worried that dozens of these rare forests could make way for housing projects and new roads in the coming years.

It cited Binsted Woods near Arundel as being at risk of destruction if Highways England pressed ahead with plans to build an A27 bypass

Binsted resident Emma Tristram said the “magenta” route backed by Arun District Council would devastate the wood as well as the village.

“I have been battling this bypass for 30 years,” she said.

“Binsted Woods are quite fantastic – 18 named woods have been there since the Domesday Book. We are still waiting to hear what Highways England decides.”

Woodland Trust outreach adviser Jim Smith-Wright said Sussex was “blessed” with the most ancient forests in Britain.

“They’re completely unique and irreplaceable,” he said.

“They take centuries to build up, you can’t just replace them overnight.

“You could go to some ancient woods and think they’re not any different from most forests but deep down these underground networks have taken shape.

“It’s like the film Avatar. The trees talk to each other, the fungi communicate.”

The woodland expert warned ploughing roads through ancient forests would only encourage more development.

“If you keep building infrastructure and roads then the demand will only increase and encourage more cars on to the road,” Mr Smith-Wright said.

“It’s a self-perpetuating cycle.

“Ancient forests aren’t there for their own benefit.

“They provide clean air, they capture carbon, they provide our food.

“These are rainforests right on our doorstep.”

Mr Smith-Wright said ancient woods were “fundamental to our existence”.

“If you go and sit in the middle of an ancient woodland in spring and see the plants in full bloom and smell the wild garlic and hear the birdsong, it’s unexplainable,” he said.

“They’re magical places.”