One of Prince William’s properties on Dartmoor has been the target of a shocking act of sabotage: young willow trees planted to restore degraded peatland have reportedly been poisoned with herbicide, destroying saplings that were part of a major ecological restoration project.

The targeted area belongs to the Duchy of Cornwall, which — under William’s stewardship — has supported peat‑recovery and flood‑mitigation efforts across the estate. The poisoned willows were among those planted to reduce soil erosion, store carbon, and improve flood resilience in Dartmoor’s fragile ecosystem.

A spokeswoman for Natural England confirmed that a formal investigation has been launched into the incident, though she declined to release further details at this time.

Environmentalists have reacted with anger and alarm. Guy Shrubsole, author and conservationist, condemned the poisoning as “an outrageous act of sabotage, one which points a dagger at the heart of efforts to restore nature in this part of the country.” He emphasized that Dartmoor’s commons are already “virtually treeless” after centuries of overgrazing, and called on all local farmers, graziers, and conservation groups to unite in denouncing the damage.

Adding urgency to the matter, a representative of the South West Peatland Partnership — which helped fund the planting — pledged to re‑plant the willows as soon as possible. “This was not just an attack on trees,” they said, “but on everyone who lives, works, or depends on these fragile landscapes.”

For the Duchy, the attack strikes at the core of its environmental mission. A statement released by the estate’s head of nature and community affairs affirmed the organization’s commitment to continue collaborating with partners to restore the land — stressing that the recent vandalism does not reflect the shared values of Dartmoor’s community.

At a time when the restoration of peatlands is critical for carbon storage, flood prevention, and ecological recovery, the poisoning of these willow saplings is being viewed not simply as environmental damage — but as a direct assault on the future of Dartmoor’s natural heritage.