FHHRN
A criminal investigation is under way after a group of young willow trees planted on Prince William’s Dartmoor estate were intentionally poisoned with a potent herbicide — an act conservationists have described as “sabotage” and “deeply disturbing”.
The story, first reported by The Guardian, centres on a restoration project on Duchy of Cornwall land aimed at stabilising peat, capturing carbon and reducing flood risk on the high moor. The saplings, planted within fenced enclosures on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, were intended to help slow the ongoing degradation of Dartmoor’s peatlands.
Experts now believe the trees were sprayed with glyphosate, a widely used weedkiller that is lethal to young growth. All the willows in the project area have died, sparking anger among environmental groups and intensifying scrutiny of the long-standing tensions surrounding Dartmoor’s land management.
Natural England has confirmed that an investigation is under way but said it cannot provide further comment while the inquiry continues.
Guy Shrubsole, environmental campaigner and author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain, told The Guardian: “This is sabotage aimed squarely at efforts to revive Dartmoor’s ecosystems. The commons are already almost entirely bare of trees. To see even these modest restoration attempts attacked is profoundly alarming.”
He urged farmers, graziers and conservation organisations to condemn the act collectively, warning that Dartmoor is at “a decisive moment” in determining whether its landscape can still be restored.
The Duchy of Cornwall said it was “dismayed” by the poisoning. Emma Magee, the Duchy’s head of communities and nature, emphasised that woodland expansion and peat recovery remain central to its long-term vision. “This action does not reflect the shared commitment of Dartmoor’s community to restore and protect this landscape,” she said.
The South West Peatland Partnership, which funded the planting, described the attack as an assault on those striving to repair Dartmoor’s vulnerable habitats. A spokesperson said the damaged sites would be replanted “as soon as practically possible”, adding that the use of herbicide on protected land “is an attack on all those who live, work and depend on these moorland environments”.
Local authorities and conservation groups are appealing for information as they work to identify those responsible. The poisoning has also reignited debate over land use on Dartmoor, where environmental restoration, agricultural livelihoods and public access often come into conflict.
