I wish to correct the landowner's assertion (Gazette, September 30) that the oak trees in Shovel Wood he is proposing to cut down were "planted by man approximately 75 years ago".

I asked Mr Ken Edwards who was born in Little Cheverell and he remembers that 75 years ago, aged five, he played hide and seek in a fully grown wood. To double check I have consulted a professionally qualified arboriculturalist and he confirms that the trees are at least 150 years old. The trees were not planted by man and as part of an ancient oak wood, existing since at least 1494, grew naturally from acorns. I am also advised that the oaks will live on if the wood is treated as an amenity wood for

another 100 years.

The current proposal to cut down 69 oak, ash and sycamore trees seems reasonable in cold print. In reality, excluding small weed

elders/hazels and dead elms, I estimate there are currently only 90 trees in the wood so little will be left apart from rows of plastic sapling pipes.

Many in the village do not believe it is "more appropriate" to replace an oak wood which forms the village shelter belt with mixed saplings. The only reason to follow this route is to convert ancient woodland into a rapidly harvested commercial asset. By not being treated as a trading asset in the past the wood has become a county level natural habitat (confirmed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust) which felling would destroy.

The villagers of Little Cheverell stated in our Village Design Statement that Shovel Wood was the most important natural feature in the area. I have written to the landowner on behalf of a group of villagers offering to raise the money within the village to buy the wood thus saving it from the chainsaw. Hopefully your paper will be able to report a successful conclusion for all parties. Then with some local care and guidance on its management from the Forestry Commission it should benefit the community for many more generations.

M E Maxwell

Little Cheverell