THE Friends of Whitcliffe Common explain their long-term management of the site.

IT was emotively billed by a handful of people as environmental vandalism but the felling of a single young oak tree on Whitcliffe was never that.

For The Friends of Whitcliffe Common, a group of volunteers who give more than 1,000 hours of their time annually to managing the common for the people of the Ludlow, it was a tiny part of a management plan that has been in place for more than 20 years.

A major part of that plan, which is reviewed every five years by the leasees of the Common, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, and the Friends, is to maintain several views from the common of Ludlow. Perhaps the most important of those views is the iconic one from the toposcope which takes in the surrounding hills as well as giving a commanding view of the town and castle.

It's a view that 50 years ago would have been uninterrupted by any trees but the cessation of grazing and coppicing for firewood on the common meant that large numbers of trees grew unhindered. When the friends took over management of the common in 1996 it was at the behest of the owner, the Earl of Plymouth, who was worried that the common wasn't being managed and that footpaths and views were being lost.

A management plan was drawn up and one of its main aims was the opening up of several viewpoints that had been lost to nature. More than 700 tonnes of wood was felled under the chairmanship of the late Alan Poulton. It was agreed to maintain an understorey of scrub that would enhance wildlife but not impede the view lines at these points. Hence we maintain the beech trees at the top of the common at roughly four feet in height, trimming them regularly with a hedgecutter.

The two young oak trees which punctuate this viewpoint probably should have been cut down 20 years ago before they became a problem for disabled people who cannot alter their view line from the easy access area by the toposcope. We had also received a number of complaints from people who had paid for seats commanding the view in memory of their loved ones.

Frankly, the oaks were not cut then because we had other priorities, such as clearing up the destruction left by a hurricane and restoring the Breadwalk, in danger of slipping into the River Teme. These things take time and money and we are a small group which raises almost all the money we spend on Whitcliffe.

Had they been cut when they were but saplings nobody would have bothered. However in oak-tree terms they represent less than one per cent of the biodiversity available on Whitcliffe. Those are the words of the Shropshire Council planning officer who approved the application to fell along with approval for felling 11 other trees on Whitcliffe. He also pointed out that both oak trees had the potential to triple or quadruple their size and pruning would not necessarily be conducive to retaining fine natural specimens.

The Friends retain trees wherever possible. Indeed we have planted hundreds of species, including more than 100 oaks and hornbeams, on other areas of the common in order to maintain and improve the biodiversity. The council tree officer’s report noted the good management of the common. It is clearly appreciated by Ludlow townspeople and visitors because our membership has increased by 25 per cent since this issue became headlines with just a handful wishing to stop their annual donation..

We have had many letters of support. Sadly those supporters are unable to grab the headlines in the same way as a small number of dissenters have been able to. The supporters understand the bigger picture, that it was never a tale of two oaks but of a management plan for 52 acres of land which is at the disposal of Ludlow townspeople for their enjoyment and pleasure for generations to come.

The responsibility of looking after this wonderful area is undertaken by all involved with integrity, thoughtfulness, full discussion and loving hearts. We hope it will be for many years to come but that relies on people joining our organisation. For just £10 annually you could become a Friend of Whitcliffe Common and help us to cherish this beautiful place.