The Earl of Cardigan is opposing plans to develop a visitor hub on his own woodland.
The earl’s family has owned the 4,500-acre Savernake Forest in Wiltshire since the Norman Conquest, but the management of Britain’s last ancient woodland has been the responsibility of Forestry England since WW2.
Now the agency, which has a 999-year lease, wants to ban visitors from the forest so it can start work on a visitor hub with a cafe, play area and 350-space car park.
Under its plan visitors would then be prevented from freely roaming the woods, and would have to stick to planned paths.
The earl, who only found out about the plans when they went to public consultation, has said he will “firmly oppose” the plans, saying it would lead to a “mass ban” on families.
Forestry England says the scheme is intended to “better manage how people enjoy the forest”.
