Farmer who bulldozed beauty spot to protect 'homes from floods' cleared of wrongdoing by Forestry Commission

A farmer who bulldozed a beauty spot to protect local homes from flooding has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Forestry Commission.

John Price had used a 16-ton digger to dredge a section of the River Lugg near Leominster in Herefordshire and stripped a mile-long stretch of the bank of trees and bushes.

The environmental destruction wrought by the potato and cattle farmer provoked widespread condemnation from wildlife charities and conservationists.

Helen Stace, CEO of the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, described Mr Price's actions as a "crime against the environment".

The trust said his actions would have a devastating impact on the animal life along the river, including otters, kingfishers, salmon and trout.

Monty Don, host of BBC Gardeners' World, had expressed his shock at the "complete obliteration" of a site of Special Scientific Interest.

However, The Forestry Commission has announced this week that no further action will be taken against Mr Price.

But Mr Price still remains under investigation by Natural England and the Environmental Agency into the work carried out on the Lugg riverbank last year.

Mr Price had justified his actions in December 2020 by saying he was protecting those living in the nearby hamlet whose homes were devastated in the 2019 floods.

He said he was not worried by the investigation as he had obtained as many permits and licenses as he could before carrying out the work on the river.

Mr Price told the Telegraph: "I got the license off Natural England, which you have to have to chop trees on a SSI river."

"I know the condition, I know the law, I could not have gotten any more licenses or permits to be 'more legal'.

"I have not done any damage to the wildlife because it was better than what it was. It's cleaner, we cleaned all the rubbish out and to be honest we've got more wildlife here now than [what] I did have in December."

Mr Price said that his efforts to reduce flooding in the river had bolstered and safeguarded the population of fish in the river.

"I have definitely helped the wildlife because it's the cleanest stretch of river now. I know there are more fish here than there have been because you can tell by the [number of] cormorants and we have got more otters than ever."

Emma Johnson, of Natural England, said: "Natural England and the Environment Agency are currently investigating the full circumstances of this significant incident on the river Lugg.

"This is a live investigation, which may lead to legal action and as such further details cannot be shared at this time."

A Forestry Commission spokesman said : "Following an investigation we can confirm that the felling operations were undertaken with the authority of an approved conditional felling licence and no further action is to be taken in respect of the felling at this time.

"The licence did not authorise any works beyond the felling of the trees.

"The conditions of the licence do, however, require re-stocking of the felled area no later than June 30, 2026.

"Failure to comply with these conditions may result in the Forestry Commission taking enforcement action in the future."

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