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| Wayford woods closes its fairy doors after attracting too many visitors | Wayford woods closes its fairy doors after attracting too many visitors |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| They come looking for signs of magical creatures. Children giggle and scream as they run into the woods – but end up bitterly disappointed when they learn that the fairy doors of Wayford woods are no more. | They come looking for signs of magical creatures. Children giggle and scream as they run into the woods – but end up bitterly disappointed when they learn that the fairy doors of Wayford woods are no more. |
| Dozens of doors fixed to trees in this slice of sylvan paradise near Crewkerne in deepest Somerset have been ripped out – a “scorched earth policy”, as one fairy-loving critic put it – because they were attracting too many visitors and causing misery to villagers. | Dozens of doors fixed to trees in this slice of sylvan paradise near Crewkerne in deepest Somerset have been ripped out – a “scorched earth policy”, as one fairy-loving critic put it – because they were attracting too many visitors and causing misery to villagers. |
| Stuart Le Fevre, a trustee for the charity that owns and manages the 29 acres of woodland, said: “It was just getting out of hand. The villagers were in revolt. We closed the woods and removed all the doors.” He said it was more cathartic than a wrench to get rid of them. | Stuart Le Fevre, a trustee for the charity that owns and manages the 29 acres of woodland, said: “It was just getting out of hand. The villagers were in revolt. We closed the woods and removed all the doors.” He said it was more cathartic than a wrench to get rid of them. |
| The first fairy door appeared more than a decade ago, a beautifully handcrafted work of art with a working handle, hinges and a little bed tucked behind it. | The first fairy door appeared more than a decade ago, a beautifully handcrafted work of art with a working handle, hinges and a little bed tucked behind it. |
| Since then, doors in all shapes, sizes and colours were added, some adorned with names and numbers. Some builders opted for grandeur – Grand Hollow Hall boasted a door with clear gothic influences. Others went for a more homely style, installing the sort of cosy door that might have appealed to Bilbo Baggins. | Since then, doors in all shapes, sizes and colours were added, some adorned with names and numbers. Some builders opted for grandeur – Grand Hollow Hall boasted a door with clear gothic influences. Others went for a more homely style, installing the sort of cosy door that might have appealed to Bilbo Baggins. |
| Most were fixed to nooks and crannies in the mossy bases of trees. Many visiting children, apparently convinced that fairies lived behind the doors, often left them notes, snacks or presents. As many as 200 doors were in place at one point. | Most were fixed to nooks and crannies in the mossy bases of trees. Many visiting children, apparently convinced that fairies lived behind the doors, often left them notes, snacks or presents. As many as 200 doors were in place at one point. |
| But some trees proved just too tempting a target for developers and certain trunks acquired up to 10 doors apiece. There was also a quality control issue. Some became too garish, as far as the trustees were concerned. Cheaper, shinier materials were being used, and a low point came when someone installed a mini fairy playground. | But some trees proved just too tempting a target for developers and certain trunks acquired up to 10 doors apiece. There was also a quality control issue. Some became too garish, as far as the trustees were concerned. Cheaper, shinier materials were being used, and a low point came when someone installed a mini fairy playground. |
| The trustees expressed concern and discussed imposing some sort of planning control. The story was picked up by the media and went global, causing a headache for the woods and the village of Wayford. | The trustees expressed concern and discussed imposing some sort of planning control. The story was picked up by the media and went global, causing a headache for the woods and the village of Wayford. |
| Sue Osborne, a South Somerset councillor for the Windwhistle ward, said: “It was unfortunate. The story went across the world. The parish clerk was getting calls from film crews in South America wanting to come and see what was going on. It was causing difficulties for the villagers and damage to the woods.” | Sue Osborne, a South Somerset councillor for the Windwhistle ward, said: “It was unfortunate. The story went across the world. The parish clerk was getting calls from film crews in South America wanting to come and see what was going on. It was causing difficulties for the villagers and damage to the woods.” |
| Sue Morley, a clerk, said: “I suppose it’s what goes with living in the age of the internet. It was chaos. Wayford is a tiny, tiny village. The road to the wood is one-way and not paved. There’s nowhere to park.” | Sue Morley, a clerk, said: “I suppose it’s what goes with living in the age of the internet. It was chaos. Wayford is a tiny, tiny village. The road to the wood is one-way and not paved. There’s nowhere to park.” |
| Villagers backed the trustees’ decision to temporarily shut the woods and, without any publicity, remove the doors – both the lovingly crafted ones and those regarded as being a little tacky. | Villagers backed the trustees’ decision to temporarily shut the woods and, without any publicity, remove the doors – both the lovingly crafted ones and those regarded as being a little tacky. |
| The magic in the woods now comes from the natural surroundings: the lake dotted with lily pads, the tumbling stream and the fauna and flora, which includes impressive tulip trees and swamp cypresses. Le Fevre said the woods have been rejuvenated: “We had to be harsh for the sake of the woods.” | |
| But some children do not agree. John Dolman was in the woods this week with his seven-year-old daughter, Amy, searching for fairy doors. As Amy tried to get to grips with the mystery of the vanishing doors, he said: “It does seem a pity they’ve gone. I wonder if they couldn’t have left a few in.” | But some children do not agree. John Dolman was in the woods this week with his seven-year-old daughter, Amy, searching for fairy doors. As Amy tried to get to grips with the mystery of the vanishing doors, he said: “It does seem a pity they’ve gone. I wonder if they couldn’t have left a few in.” |
| Fairy fans still turn up and install doors but they are rapidly removed. “What a shame,” one visitor wrote on a Facebook page set up to celebrate the woods. “Went for a special trip to the woods today to find all the fairy doors are gone! Not one left ... some poor lady turned up with two excited little girls ... didn’t have the heart to tell them ... beautiful place but what a shame to spoil children’s fun.” | Fairy fans still turn up and install doors but they are rapidly removed. “What a shame,” one visitor wrote on a Facebook page set up to celebrate the woods. “Went for a special trip to the woods today to find all the fairy doors are gone! Not one left ... some poor lady turned up with two excited little girls ... didn’t have the heart to tell them ... beautiful place but what a shame to spoil children’s fun.” |
| There is a resistance movement. One local, a regular visitor who calls himself the leader of the dark fairies and has asked for his real name to be witheld, said there was a determination from some fairy door makers not to be beaten by what he called a “scorched earth policy”. | There is a resistance movement. One local, a regular visitor who calls himself the leader of the dark fairies and has asked for his real name to be witheld, said there was a determination from some fairy door makers not to be beaten by what he called a “scorched earth policy”. |
| He said: “I do have sympathy for the trustees. When all this broke it was bluebell season and there was a real danger of the bluebells being trampled in the scrum.” But he said there were rumours that at least one carefully hidden door had been missed by the trustees. “The dark fairies will win in the end,” he said. | He said: “I do have sympathy for the trustees. When all this broke it was bluebell season and there was a real danger of the bluebells being trampled in the scrum.” But he said there were rumours that at least one carefully hidden door had been missed by the trustees. “The dark fairies will win in the end,” he said. |