My wood in East Sussex is a division of a larger wooded area with a number of access points. The tracks and gates, I believe, are owned by Woodlands and the gates are kept locked. However, over the years, the keys have been copied many times and no nobody knows who is able to access the woods.
Last Xmas, a tall Norway Spruce on a neighbouring plot was felled across a track with a hatchet and the top section hacked off and carted away as a free xmas tree. It appeared at the time that a 4x4 had gained access to that point to take the tree away. Yesterday, I noticed that I had been the victim this year, presumably by the same person. A 40' tree had been felled and the top removed by combination of saw and hatchet. I remembered seeing fresh tyre tracks and noticing my barrier had been removed on Xmas eve, so again this is someone with a 4x4 and a key to the gates.
I'm sure all small wood owners will know how I feel about a mature tree being felled just for the top. I would imagine that the tree had taken circa 25 years at least to grow to that height.
If I can't control who has free access to my wood, I'm minded to fell the spruce and plant something else!
Steve.