PICTURES have emerged of a bulldozer carrying out work which has outraged naturalists at the river Lugg in Kingsland.
The work has been described as "one of the most egregious acts of ecological vandalism" in 25 years.
A bulldozer at work in the river Lugg. Photo: Alan Davies
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It was highlighted by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust on Thursday, who said a 1.5 kilometre stretch of the river had been "intentionally destroyed", with huge repercussions for wildlife downstream.
The Wildlife Trust said the river and its banks have been bulldozed, straightened and reprofiled into a sterile canal, obliterating habitats.
The site of the works at the river Lugg in Kingsland in 2019. Photo: Daniel MacCarthy
Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission have joined forces to investigate at the Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The site after the works were carried out. Photo: Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
Read more: River Lugg destruction: Government agencies step in to investigate
The landowner has admitted being responsible for clearing the riverbank, according to Saturday's Daily Telegraph, saying he had acted with permission.
He said he had not uprooted any trees, but had only cleared those that had come down in floods.
He said flooding in the area had been getting worse over the last 10 years, and that he had the support of the village and parish council in doing the work.
Read more: River Lugg ‘bulldozed’: What we know so far
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