A Somerset man has been fined £116,263 after illegally converting protected land into a commercial caravan site, causing serious harm to rare bird habitats. John Holland, 59, of Moorlinch, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on November 26 after pleading guilty to offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Natural England’s four-year investigation revealed that Holland transformed 1.2 hectares of grassland within the Wet Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) into a permanent caravan park at Long Load. The site now contains over 90 caravans, 40 vehicles, 300 metres of tarmacked roads, and accumulated household and commercial waste.
Despite five failed planning applications from 2011 to 2018, which were rejected by the Planning Inspectorate, Holland proceeded with the unlawful development. The Wet Moor SSSI, designated in 1985 and part of the internationally important Somerset Levels and Moors, provides crucial breeding habitat for threatened wading birds including curlew and black-tailed godwit. It also supports endangered species such as Bewick’s swan, lapwing, pochard, and holds over three percent of the world’s Eurasian teal population.
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The illegal alterations led to habitat destruction, disturbance, and displacement of these protected bird species. Prosecuted in March 2023, Holland was found to have persistently disregarded legal protections despite opportunities to remediate the damage.
Moreover, Holland was convicted in September 2023 for threatening and abusing Natural England officers investigating the site in 2021. Although he claimed bankruptcy, financial investigations linked over £1 million in unexplained assets to profits from the illegal caravan operation.
Judge Richard Shepherd criticized Holland’s deliberate offences, describing them as “a flagrant disregard of the law” and noted the criminal lifestyle demonstrated. Holland was ordered to pay the fine within three months and must restore the site to its original semi-natural grassland condition by January 23, 2026. This includes removal of all caravans and infrastructure and habitat restoration to support breeding and wintering bird populations.
Failure to comply will result in unlimited fines plus £100 per day until full restoration is achieved.
Matt Heard, Natural England’s national delivery director, praised the court’s decision, emphasizing the commitment to protect SSSIs and the rare species relying on them. He condemned Holland’s deliberate actions prioritizing illicit gain over environmental duty and legal obligations.