WHITCHURCH Down has long been a green and pleasant place, much loved by walkers and people exercising their dogs. However, during the past week, several acres of vegetation have been ripped out leaving the area transformed and resembling a battleground in places. Apart from the total disregard for the look of the place the area is now extremely hazardous for dogs and humans with sharp gorse roots protruding from the ground. It will clearly remain like this for many years. I understand from Tavistock Town Council that this action was at the behest of the Commoners. How sad that no one bothered to consider those of us who love and cherish the place. Carolyn Collett Whitchurch Road Tavistock I AM the new owner of Whitchurch House and the surrounding land, which includes the woodland that borders the southern edge of Whitchurch Down. The woodland contained a plantation of larch trees.  Earlier this year, the Forestry Commission conducted a survey and determined that some of the larch trees were diseased with Phytophthora Ramorum.   As a result, they issued a Statutory Plant Heath Notice requiring all the larch to be felled and the timber to be removed in the approved manner by March 31, 2015. The trees have now been felled and the timber stacked roadside.  The lumber company has already started to haul the timber away and the remainder should be all gone by December 5. The machinery has caused some damage to Whitchurch Down and this will be put right shortly. Next spring, the woodland will be re-planted with native English broadleaves. Clive Saunderson Whitchurch