Our millionaire neighbor chopped down dozens of trees… he claimed to combat erosion – but now his sea view is perfect

NEIGHBORS have attacked a millionaire homeowner after he chopped down dozens of trees, claiming it would stop erosion.

Tree surgeons were called in by businessman Bill Buckler, 62, to carry out a survey of the 28 mature maritime pines that stood on the sloping cliff at the bottom of his garden.

Neighbors claim the view has improved since the 28 trees were felledCredit: BNPS

Bill Buckler called in tree surgeons to examine the pines at the bottom of his bluff propertyCredit: Bayview Developments

Experts say there was a danger the trees could blow over and fall onto the promenade below the house in PooleCredit: BNPS

What the area looked like before the trees were cut downCredit: BNPS

Canford Cliffs in Poole, Dorsetis a protected site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

Naturally England approved the move, which agreed with Mr Buckler that cutting down the 9-metre-tall trees would help protect the cliff from erosion and improve habitat for rare reptiles such as sand lizards.

Cutting down the trees prevents them from falling and potentially landing on someone walking on the boardwalk 100 feet below.

However, locals have pointed out that since the work was carried out, the sea views from Mr Buckler’s garden have improved significantly.

Aerial photographs show a 15m wide path has been cleared on the clifftop directly behind Mr Buckler’s new £3million mansion.

Images also appear to show what could be a large sun terrace, which was built next to the edge of the cliff where the trees had been.

‘CONCETE JUNGLE’

Neighbor Mark Glowacki claimed Buckler had turned the land into a “concrete jungle.”

He told the MailOnline: “It’s a shame that the trees have disappeared, but there’s not much we can do about it. I suspect he did it to improve his eyesight.

‘He doesn’t just clean up the site, he builds something there.

“It’s not ideal, he’s turning it into a concrete jungle instead of keeping it as a beautiful rural area.

Outrage as Britain’s ‘tallest’ magnolia tree is suddenly knocked to the ground by the council in ‘act of violence’

“Unfortunately there were no tree protection orders in place for the trees, although I believe there is a general protection order in place.”

Another neighbor, who was not identified, said: “I believe he did this to improve the view from the garden.”

They added that they liked the trees which they thought improved the view and found it ‘bizarre’ that Mr Buckler wanted them removed.

Another neighbor, who also was not named, said the tree surgeon’s report covered the entire area of the cliff that Mr Buckler owns, but only part of the cliff in front of the half-finished patio had been cleared.

He dismissed the idea that the trees had been removed to protect the cliff face and save the sand lizards as “complete nonsense” and questioned why Mr Buckler had only cut down the trees for the lower garden.

Trees at risk of falling

The tree specialists’ report submitted to Natural England said the trees had grown so tall that there was a risk of them falling in a strong south-westerly wind.

It added that if that were to happen, they would take chunks out of the cliff, undermining its stability.

Tree expert Andrew Scott said Mr Buckler’s main aim was to reduce cliff erosion.

He explained that the roots of a tree grow larger as the tree also grows and becomes larger.

RISK OF CLIFF SOIL BECOMING UNSTABLE

The growth of the larger structural roots may be a factor in making the cliff bottom unstable.

Larger trees are exposed to “stronger wind forces” that are “expelled” through the root system, which can lead to soil movement.

Nick Squirrell, conservation and planning adviser at Natural England, said there were a number of reasons why the non-native pines were “undesirable” in the SSSI area.

He said the trees created shade over habitat that could otherwise be used by the sand lizards.

Mr Squirrell also said the trees obscure the geological features of the area and pose a risk of falling over the cliff onto the promenade.

Mr Buckler, owner of Bayview Developments, paid £3 million for the 1.5-hectare clifftop plot in 2020.

He obtained planning permission to demolish a bungalow already on the site and build a large four-bedroom detached house with a separate property swimming swimming pool outbuilding.

The Sun Online has contacted Mr Buckler for comment.