Birchanger Wood: Firefighters called to deal with children's dens set alight by vandals

Dens built by children and their families in Birchanger Wood have been dismantled after they were set alight by vandals.

A spokesman for Birchanger Wood Trust, which runs the ancient woodland on the outskirts of Bishop's Stortford, said the fire service had been called to deal with the blazes and also revealed that a seating area had been vandalised. This led to volunteers spending a day building new seating.

"We ask people to respect our woodland and our volunteers by keeping to paths and just enjoying the scenery and spring flowers, as the vast majority do," said the spokesman.

The 69-acre wood between Birchanger and Bishop's Stortford's Parsonage estate straddling the A120 bypass has proved popular with walkers during lockdown, with many families discovering nature's delights for the first time. It is well known for its display of bluebells, which are due soon to appear throughout the woodland.

The spokesman added that fires are prohibited in the wood as they scorch the earth and it can take a couple of years to regenerate.