A WEALTHY landowner who cut down hundreds of trees in an ancient wood has now sold the plot.

James Hyatt outraged nature lovers last year when he levelled 13 acres at Pondtail Wood near Hurstpierpoint.

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has confirmed the land has now been sold to a private owner ahead of a public inquiry into an appeal by Mr Hyatt against an enforcement order for the restoration of the woodland.

The order has now been transferred to the new owner who will have six months to remove waste dumped in the woodland.

Mr Hyatt has now dropped his appeal and signed an agreement, along with the new owner, not to lodge any further challenges.

The new owner will have to grade and level the surface in keeping with the soil type to allow the growth of replanted trees.

Phil Belden, from Sussex Wildlife Trust, said it was now a matter of wait and see to find out the new owner’s attitude to the site.

He said the sale “neatly” avoided the public inquiry which may have provided the chance to save what remains of Pondtail Wood and to fully restore it with native broad leaf deciduous trees and not conifers.

He said: “The new owner has an awful lot of work to do. We don’t really know what Mr Hyatt has put there.

“People will be thinking maybe he has got away with it but I would guess he has sold it for less than he bought it so he’s probably lost money, though that does not help on the enforcement side.”

An SDNPA spokeswoman said: “We believe this is a positive outcome for the national park, providing certainty for the future management of the planning breach.

“Not only has the appeal been withdrawn but the new owner, along with the former owner of the site, have also signed an agreement with the SDNPA that they will not lodge any challenges.

“The site cannot be restocked with trees until the new planting season commences in autumn.”