An act of environmental vandalism has struck Prince William's Dartmoor estate, where willow trees planted for ecological restoration have been killed using herbicide.
The deliberate poisoning has prompted Natural England to launch an investigation into the incident.
The trees formed part of an initiative to combat peat erosion, capture carbon and mitigate flood risks on the Duchy of Cornwall property.
Conservation groups have expressed fury at the sabotage, whilst the Duchy has voiced its dismay at the attack on the restoration scheme.
Prince William's estate hit by vandalism as willows poisoned in 'outrageous act of sabotage'
|GETTY
The incident has ignited debate about the future of nature recovery efforts in one of Britain's most iconic national parks.
The willows were established within a designated site of special scientific interest (SSSI) on common land called the Forest of Dartmoor.
Protective fencing had been erected around the saplings to shield them from grazing livestock on the surrounding moorland.
Experts suspect the trees were destroyed using glyphosate, a powerful herbicide.
The Prince of Wales visiting an area of restored peatland at Dartmoor National Park
|GETTY
Natural England has confirmed its investigation is ongoing but declined to provide additional details about the inquiry, as reported by the Guardian.
The restoration scheme aimed to address widespread peatland degradation across Britain caused by historical drainage and burning practices.
Willow trees serve a crucial function in anchoring soil through their extensive root networks, preventing erosion of this vital carbon-storing habitat.
Guy Shrubsole, author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain, condemned the vandalism 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."
William is known as the Duke of Cornwall while in Cornwall
|PA
He highlighted that Dartmoor's commons have become "virtually treeless already as a result of centuries of overgrazing by sheep."
The deliberate destruction of restoration efforts was "deeply disturbing, as is the failure so far to uncover the culprit," he added.
Mr Shrubsole called for unified condemnation, stating: "Such wanton criminal damage must be publicly condemned by all common graziers, farmers and conservationists.
"Dartmoor stands at a critical juncture: do we choose to breathe life back into this landscape, or let it die?"
The Prince of Wales during his visit to Pensford, Bristol, for the inaugural event for sixty of the Duchy of Cornwall's next generation of farming tenants
|PA
Emma Magee, the Duchy of Cornwall's head of communities and nature, emphasised the estate's dedication to Dartmoor's future: "We are committed to working with our partners to secure a better future for Dartmoor, and this recent action does not represent the collective commitment of Dartmoor's community to achieve this.
"Woodland expansion alongside peatland restoration is central to a restored landscape across Dartmoor."
The South West Peatland Partnership, which financed the planting scheme, denounced the herbicide use as "an attack on those that live, work, enjoy and rely on these landscapes."
Their spokesman affirmed that tree planting on Dartmoor has scientific and historical backing for wetland functionality, pledging: "We will replant the vandalised areas as soon as possible."