Blog hits out at Ham Common Woods 'desecration'

Matthew Rees, of Northweald Lane, has been firing off angry postings after becoming enraged at work carried out by Richmond Council at Ham Common Woods.

According to the council the work was undertaken to improve the area, but Mr Rees has been using his website, hamphotos.blogspot.com, to argue they have spoilt the beauty spot.

Mr Rees, who set up the blog - which now has 972 entries - in February 2007, said: “Continuous attacks on these wild retreats are gradually making Ham regimented and banal.”

“Ham Common Woods has always provided a wild contrast to the formality of Ham Common on the other side of the road but by removing trees to make way for more grass the council is destroying this natural border and balance.”

He accused the decision-makers of working “consistently to remove the wild and wonderful that makes this area special”.

Mr Rees continued: “Possibly the worst desecration has been the reinstatement of a pointless sight-line from Star and Garter Hill toward Twickenham - made by cutting a wide swathe through the most heavily wooded and most attractive part of Ham Lands.

“Ham is becoming a less interesting and a less exciting place and the council is using our money to make it so.”

Council cabinet member for environment, Councillor Martin Elengorn, said officials “attach great value to the borough’s natural environment” and would continue projects “to enhance it”.

Coun Elengorn added: “The project in Ham Common Woods will improve the vista of the church and war memorial and see the restoration of arid grassland.

“This is a priority habitat that is extremely rare in London and essential to the well being of local wildlife.

“Calls from the community for the site to be restored were consulted on and approved.”

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