THE owners of a family-owned children’s nursery have been ordered to pay £24,500 after they cut down nine ancient and “irreplaceable” trees worth nearly £400,000.

Hove Crown Court was told the owners of Bunny Run Childcare Centre in The Drive, Hailsham, had the trees cut down in May 2018 because they believed they were causing a danger to children and parents attending the nursery.

However, the court heard that Wealden District Council had placed a preservation order on the trees.

The court was told the owners were unaware of the order but prosecutor Felicity Thomas, representing Wealden District Council, told the judge it “beggars belief” that the business did not make enquiries as to whether or not they were entitled to fell the ancient trees.

“The nursery is situated in ancient woodland,” she said. A survey, she told the court, had estimated the cost of the trees at £378,800. “The harm of this action is put at significant,” she added.

The Recorder, Mr Ben Collins QC, said it was “regrettable” that the owners “took no steps to find out what the position was” before going ahead with their actions.

“These trees are irreplaceable,” he said, adding the level of negligence in their actions was “high”.

The business was fined £17,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,500 after electing for jury trial. However, the court heard the business pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing before the trial started.

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