Prince William's land in Dartmoor targeted by 'outrageous act of sabotage'
Statements have been issued
Trees planted as part of a nature project on Prince William’s Dartmoor land have been deliberately poisoned in what’s being called a shocking act of environmental sabotage.
Conservationists and environmental groups have spoken out in anger, while Natural England has launched an investigation.
Trees on Prince William’s Dartmoor land deliberately poisoned
The trees, mainly willows, were planted on Duchy of Cornwall land to stop peat erosion, store carbon and reduce the risk of flooding.
The area is part of a protected nature zone known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The trees were fenced off to protect them from livestock. However, experts believe someone sprayed them with glyphosate, a powerful weed killer, killing many of the young saplings.
Natural England has confirmed they are investigating but can’t share more details yet.
Environmental author Guy Shrubsole, known for The Lost Rainforests of Britain, did not mince words.
In an interview with The Guardian, he called the poisoning “an outrageous act of sabotage, one which points a dagger at the heart of efforts to restore nature in this part of the country”.
He explained that much of the moor is already bare of trees due to centuries of overgrazing by sheep, and that this kind of damage should be strongly condemned.
Shrubsole warned that deliberate destruction of restoration projects is “deeply disturbing”.
Prince William’s environmental work
The attack strikes at the heart of the work that Prince William has long championed.
The Prince of Wales has always supported environmental protection and land restoration.
Under his leadership, the Duchy has focused on projects like peatland recovery, reforestation, and sustainable farming. He’s also known for founding the Earthshot Prize, a global initiative to discover innovative climate and conservation solutions.
The Duchy also reacted with disappointment to the tree poisoning.
Emma Magee, Head of Communities and Nature at the Duchy of Cornwall, said the act goes against the work being done by local people to restore Dartmoor.
“We are committed to working with our partners to secure a better future for Dartmoor,” she said.
Meanwhile, the South West Peatland Partnership, which funded the planting, condemned the attack as “an attack on everyone working… to restore our peatlands”.
A spokesperson has promised to replant the vandalised areas as soon as possible.
This attack comes at a time when restoring peatland is more important than ever.
Peatlands help fight climate change and support nature. However, many have been damaged over the years by draining and burning. Projects like the one at Dartmoor are key to fixing this damage and helping the land recover.
Royal Insider has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
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