In December 2006, Natural England responded to a front page report in the Evening Post headlined "AVON GORGE TREES FACE THE AXE". The story covered the publication of the Avon Gorge Draft Management Plan. Natural England's regional landscape manager, Simon Lee, made no attempt to dispute the Post's claim that "hundreds of trees" were to be felled. He defended the plan, saying:
In truth, Avon Gorge is a Special Area of Conservation for woodland, with grassland only a qualifying, not primary reason for the status. Natural England are being economical with the truth, one would suppose in order to persuade us to accept their plan to hit DEFRA targets for "Environmental Correctness". DEFRA considers grassland to be the "proper" landscape for the Avon Gorge.
If Natural England have their way we will see half of the Gorge-side woodland between Sea Walls (Black Rocks) and Observatory Hill felled, fences put up, and goats released.
It is important to realise that Natural England have wide ranging powers. They can fell woodland on private property if they think it necessary. They consider themselves answerable to no one except central government. But, a city of the importance of Bristol has some clout too. The City Council have had ample time to think through this issue. Are they really prepared to let a quango of DEFRA dictate the future landscape of the Avon Gorge against the wishes of the people of Bristol? Natural England will yield to determined opposition. They do not like bad publicity. There is some cause for hope.