A CHARITY has been accused of ruining an ancient Keighley woodland that it owns.

The Woodland Trust has come under fire amid claims of "excessive" work at the popular 17-acre site.

One naturalist and keen bird watcher who has been visiting the former Holme House Wood – recently renamed Captain Tom’s Memorial Woodland – for 60 years, says the area is being stripped of its natural appeal.

"I appreciate that the Woodland Trust does a lot of good work but it is turning this ancient woodland into a park," says Oakworth resident Simon Pollard. The 66-year-old has been a visitor to the wood since he was child.

Late last year the trust announced that Holme House Wood – which it acquired in 1991 – was being renamed in honour of Keighley-born fundraising hero the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised £38 million for NHS charities and captured the nation's hearts by walking laps of his garden during the first period of lockdown.

The wood is also being extended, with the planting of more than 3,000 hedgerow trees and shrubs – including hawthorn, hazel and field maple. And a semi-circular stone seat with the inscription 'Tomorrow will be a good day', the famous motto of Captain Sir Tom, has been installed.

A site of special interest because of its rich ground flora, the wood – on the banks of the North Beck between Laycock and Goose Eye – features displays of bluebells in spring and bird species such as sparrowhawk, great spotted woodpecker and kingfisher can be seen there.

Mr Pollard says: "The stone seat is a lovely feature but the trust has installed fencing and put huge wooden 'boxes' around the saplings.

"They have gone too far and are ruining the woodland. They're spoiling its wild and native look."

But the Woodland Trust defends its actions.

A spokesperson said: "The fencing at Captain Tom's Memorial Woodland has been put in to outline the boundary of our land and a native hedgerow has been planted to act as a wildlife corridor to neighbouring woodlands.

"Where necessary tree cages have been put in place to protect the trees from browsing deer, without which newly-planted saplings are unlikely to survive.

"Drainage and pathway work has been carried to ensure the woodland is less wet in the winter months and therefore more accessible for all our visitors."

Small pockets of individual trees are being planted across three meadows to retain key areas of open space and existing views at the site, says the trust.

And denser areas of tree planting will be carried out to buffer and protect the existing wood.

The woodland falls within the White Rose Forest – part of the Northern Forest, where the trust and partners plan to plant over 50 million trees between Hull and Liverpool.