A REPORT by a conservation ecologist suggests that many restoration projects being carried out throughout the New Forest are ill-prepared, destructive to wildlife and unlawful.

The 49-page document put together by Tom Langton comes after the Forestry Commission’s £250,000 restoration project at Latchmore Brook near Fordingbridge was halted halfway through a 20-week preparatory programme to reconnect the stream with the floodplain due to bad weather.

The scheme prompted opposition from campaign group the Friends of Latchmore Brook, who claimed plans to put 10,000 tonnes of gravel in the stream would jeopardise the habitats of dragonflies, plants, birds and fish. The protestors threatened to take their fight to European authorities, claiming that planned works should be subject to an environmental impact assessment.

Mr Langton’s document on the management of the New Forest looks into allegations that aspects of the biodiversity in the New Forest have been mismanaged by Natural England and the Forestry Commission.

It includes photographs of erosion, trapped water and clay sodden surfaces at Dames Slough and Ditchend Brook, where the infilling technique has already been used to re-route the streams and brooks.

The report states: “There is a growing undercurrent of alarm and criticism regarding the management of the New Forest. “The ongoing drainage remediation work being undertaken seems to relate only peripherally to the total management and restoration needs of the New Forest.

“In the examples investigated, these projects appear, in varying degrees, to have failed, to have worked in part or to have or to be likely to have disturbed, damaged and destroyed important nature conservation habitats, habitat features or species.

“The suggestion that the proposed Latchmore Brook restoration may, with others, be unlawful is based upon the apparent lack of informed analysis to support the actions and the decision-taking surrounding such projects.

“A lack of pre and post work analysis has failed to pick up that the method of re-aligning forest brooks in this manner is probably not appropriate for this particular area.

“Latchmore Brook has been a microcosm of the wider problem illustrating the vulnerability of wildlife to ill prepared plans.”

“Vigilance is required in addition to further clarification of the issues involved and how best to resolve them by all parties working closely together.”

The Forestry Commission stopped its restoration work at Latchmore Brook last year due to poor weather.

However, the organisation is seeking planning permission before work is resumed at the site.

A Forestry Commission spokesman said: "We disagree with the individual point of view expressed in this report. “We work closely with Natural England and other experts to ensure our forest management and restoration plans are based on adequate evidence coming from independent reports and surveys.

“All large scale restoration work is subject to planning consent and issues and concerns can be raised through the planning process."