AN AREA of forestry in Co Cork dating back two centuries, roughly the equivalent of eight pitches at Croke Park, has allegedly been illegally felled in recent weeks, according to preliminary inquiries carried out by the State body for the country’s wildlife and habitats.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has launched an investigation into the incident on foot of receiving a ‘formal alert’ from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

The report of a preliminary investigation into the matter carried out by the NPWS has been released to The Journal under Freedom of Information legislation.

The report details the level of alleged destruction and finds that it totalled over 30 acres.

Native broadleaved trees aged over 200 years old were allegedly removed by machinery, according to the report, as were hedgerows that were recorded on the first edition of ordnance survey maps dating back to the 1800s.

Almost 2 kilometres of the hedgerows were removed, with the report describing these as “ancient, long established” features possessing “high biodiversity value” for local wildlife.

Photos of the site, included in the report seen by The Journal, show bare parcels of land after the trees and plants were allegedly cleared away.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture told The Journal that an investigation was initiated by the forestry division of the department around the area of forestry involved.

“A site visit has already taken place and the investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.

“Depending on the result of this investigation, legal action may be considered.”

The report found that heavy plant machinery entered the site through a Coillte plantation.

It added that Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company, was contacted by the NPWS about the case. In response, Coillte said that it was approached by an unnamed group seeking to use a pathway through the Coillte land to carry out the felling.

Coillte told the National Parks and Wildlife Service that it “refused” access to a representative of the unnamed group.

The report said the group behind the felling still continued to use the Coillte plantation to move their machinery onto the site for the allegedly illegal works, noting that the forestry body was “not aware” of this.

When contacted, a spokesperson for Coillte said the semi-state was “aware of unauthorised access” to its forest lands in the area in question.

The spokesperson said the matter is under review by Coillte’s legal team.