Cork landowner loses appeal against order to replant trees she felled on her land

The Minister for Agriculture was of the view that “serious damage” had been done to specified woodlands

A Department of Agriculture forestry inspector, Eugene Curran, noticed that trees, “including oak with fresh green leaves”, had been felled and cleared in 2018. File photo: iStock

A High Court judge has refused to overturn a replanting order issued to a Co. Cork landowner whose tree-felling activities allegedly caused “serious damage” to specified woodlands.

Lorraine Costello, with land at Silvergrove, Kilbarry, Co. Cork, brought a challenge against a replanting order made by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in March 2019, She also challenged a separate decision of the Forestry Appeals Committee upholding the Minister’s February 2019 revocation of her tree-felling licence.