Ringwould Cricket Club has fought back against a campaign group which wants to get legal rights to walk in Coldblow Woods – by turning the area into a “fortress”.
Earth was dug up and piled into a 3ft mound on Friday, marking the boundary to land owned by TG Claymore UK.
But the mound has blocked the established footpath used by walkers for more than 20 years. The path is a crucial part of the drive to get a legal right of way.
Ringwould villager Jenny Chatfield, who is now trying to reclassify the woods as a village green, called the development as ‘an act of vandalism’. Nicholas Fielding, secretary of the cricket club, has previously told the Mercury that they need to secure the former Royal Marines Sports Ground, including the woods, as part of requirements to create a club.
Mr Fielding’s company TG Claymore is leasing the woods to Ringwould Cricket Club, which he is helping set up.
The woods have been featured in the Mercury frequently since openings around the perimeter were blocked off with barbed wire in August.
On Friday, a digger was used to fill the openings in the perimeter with mud as well.
Mrs Chatfield said: “It’s like a fortified area with the ramparts and barbed wire. Everywhere that people gained access to the woods through the footpath and bridleway have been filled in and more barbed wire put up."
Mrs Chatfield met a solicitor last week who advised her to pursue a claim to make the land a village green.
Already she has more than 30 people prepared to act as witnesses to the fact the footpath has been used for more than 20 years.
Mrs Chatfield is urging anyone with an interest in the woods to get in touch.
n Email rogerchatfield@btinternet.com