Ron Brind in the woodland

A wildlife trust has come under fire for cutting down trees in the woodland that helped inspire CS Lewis to write The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The land next to the author's former home, in Risinghurst, Oxford, known as "the real Narnia", is now a nature reserve.

But Narnia has come under attack from chainsaws, claims the man who organises CS Lewis tours of Oxford. And he says the local wildlife trust BBOWT is to blame.

Ronald Brind says the trust has needlessly cut down many trees and is changing the character of the woodland that proved an inspiration to the Oxford don, who became known around the world for his Narnia books.

Mr Brind said many foreign visitors to Lewis's old home were horrified by the state of the reserve.

But the wildlife trust, which has owned the site since 1969, defended the work, which it said was part of a strategy to deter vandals and make the reserve more accessible.

Mr Brind was a childhood friend of Lewis's stepson, Dougie Gresham, and was a regular visitor to the author's home.

He said: "They have been up there with chainsaws. When I asked what was going on, they told me they were taking out all the non-native species.

"It's disgusting and scandalous. They include trees that have taken 60 and 70 years to grow.

"American visitors who come here in search of Lewis are distraught. They think it's horrific. This was CS Lewis's back garden for more than 30 years."

Mr Brind has also complained about the state of the lake and the amount of rubbish strewn about.

With the Walt Disney version of the classic book certain to renew visitor interest in Lewis, one local resident said: "The wood looks dreadful. I suppose it will get better in time. But they're destroying mature trees, which Lewis himself would have known."

BBOWT said neighbours were consulted last year about a strategy to clean up the reserve after repeated problems with vandalism, litter and scrambler bikes.

Spokesman Sophie Lewis said sycamore trees were cut down to encourage wildlife and undergrowth.

Ms Lewis said: "Because of their rapid rate of growth, the trees that have been cut down would not have been there when CS Lewis was walking around.

"Mr Brind wants a lovely place to take American tourists. But that's not our primary concern.

"We're a conservation organisation and would not do anything that would upset the biodiversity of the site."

9:24am Friday 31st March 2006

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