A damaged area of woodland has now become a home for hundreds of beautiful wildflowers.

The site near Henfield was the centre of controversy last year after the ancient woodland was cleared by site owners Jack Dunckley’s Birchfield Nursery.

It was cleared due to fears the trees were encroaching on to the road and builders wanted to lay underground cabling.

Residents protested the decision but now the garden centre management is boasting the newly flourishing site as a haven for wildlife flowers.

They said the “additional light levels and improved soil conditions” is thanks to the removal of the trees – which they said were “damaged and diseased”.

The area on the six-acre nursery site is now home to English bluebells, Red Campions, Cow Parsley, Pignuts and Spurge - which the site’s owners say are “thriving”. However locals are still unhappy about the situation – which frames a larger row over planning permission for an expansion of the nursery.

Charles Taylor, a barrister, from nearby Kidders Lane, said residents are still bemoaning the loss of the site, which he described as a “real joy”.

He said: “We are not talking about a few trees, we are talking about a vast swath of woodland.”

The 60-year-old added: “It is a complete cheek – if you cut and burn the area and just leave it you are going to get wild flowers.

“That whole area used to be carpeted in blue this time of year and every year it was a real joy.”

The clearance of the wood was done ahead of proposed plans to develop a Horticultural Centre of Excellence run by Jack Dunckley, 22, an eight-time Royal Horticultural Society award winner.

The plans are currently at the appeal stage with Horsham District Council. They include a lecture theatre, library, café and design studio in an effort to the turn the site into a community hub.

They were rejected by the council last month due to the impact the building would have on the surroundings.

Background

Jack Dunckley is the face of the Birchfield Nursery and is fast becoming a celebrity in the gardening world.

The 22-year-old first began designing when he was ten years old and won his first Royal Horticultural Society award when he was just 14.

Earlier this year he showcased his designs at the Grand Designs Live show in London.

Mr Dunckley is becoming a recognised TV personality for his appearences on programmes like Gardener’s World and The Alan Titchmarsh Show.

The youngster realised his dream was to become a gardener when he met Alan Titchmarsh at the age of 11.