Investigation underway after environmentalists 'sickened' by tree felling video in Jersey
An investigation is underway to see if the felling of woodland on private land in Jersey was lawful.
It comes after a video was shared on social media of trees being cut down at a property in Fliquet, which has since been removed.
The island's former Climate Change Minister and Chair of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Hilary Jeune, told ITV News:
"My first response is aghast at how aggressive it is, including with the music over the top - it seemed to be promoting it as a really a good thing, that there were big machines scouring the earth and taking away not only the trees but any wildlife has completely gone.
"As an environmentalist, I felt completely sickened by it."
She added that this is not the first case of it's kind and "the risk has always been there, and been brought up many times."
The Infrastructure and Environment Department have said they need to "discover the facts of the case and see if there have been any breaches under any relevant laws - before any action can be taken."
In Jersey, there are no laws explicitly preventing the felling of woodland in these kinds of areas if they are on private land.
People can apply to the Planning Department to protect individual trees, but due to the length of the process, very few trees are actually protected.There were attempts to tighten tree protections by the previous States Assembly but these have since been withdrawn.
Jersey's Wildlife Law protects nesting birds as well as many trees and plants. Planning permission is also required for the removal of some trees.
Environmentalist, Sheena Brockie, says the protecting biodiversity on the island is crucial.
"Granted there was damage from Storm Ciarán, however there was still standing trees, standing deadwood's really important.
"The fact that every single blade of grass, every single shrub, the majority of trees - they're covered in ivy and those kind of trees support so much wildlife.
"The soil biodiversity, the birds that depend on it, the bats that depend on it - these are protected under the legislation."The Environment Minister, Deputy Steve Luce, added the islands greenery needs to be looked after.
"I see sites that are developed and trees are still being felled where I feel that's unnecessary and consequently, since I've been minister we've formed a tree advisory board and that group of people are coming forward with certain recommendations about varieties we might want to grow in the future, and about protection."
ITV News Channel tried to speak to people inside the property, but no one would answer.Planning are now carrying out an investigation to see if there has been any breaches of the law.
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