Persimmon founder Duncan Davidson to fell entire Northumberland forest

Persimmon Homes founder Duncan Davidson has decided to fell an entire forest he owns in Northumberland and sell off the timber.

The plan to level Threestoneburn Forest would mean clearing an area of 568ha, and bringing down around one million trees.

The forest would take three years to fell, and would yield around 150,000 tonnes of timber. 1.5km of new road would have to be built to provide access.

If given the green light, the project would be one of the biggest landscape changes to Northumberland National Park since its establishment in 1956.

The proposals by Davidson's Lilburn Estate are due for consideration by the Forestry Commission early next year.