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. But since then so many tiny doors have been fixed to trees in one Somerset wood that the custodians of this slice of sylvan paradise are having to bring in planning controls.
“The problem is there are just too many of them – and some are a little bit garish, they don’t fit in,” said Stuart Le Fevre, a trustee for Wayford woods, near Crewkerne. He said doors were being screwed into living trees, which could be damaging. “And some have been added to trees far away from the paths so children have been trampling over the bluebells. We don’t want to discourage children and we certainly are not anti-fairy – but we have to take some sort of action.”
Most of the fairy doors are fixed to nooks and crannies in the mossy bases of trees. Visiting children are convinced that fairies live behind the doors and often leave notes, snacks or presents for the tiny creatures.
Many of the doors are as tasteful as the first one to appear. They’ve been built in all shapes, sizes and colours, some adorned with names and numbers. One or two builders have gone for grandeur – the architect of Grand Hollow Hall boasts a door with clear Gothic influences. Others have opted for a more homely style, installing the sort of cosy door that might have appealed to Bilbo Baggins.
However, some trees have proved just too tempting a target for developers and trunks have acquired up to 10 doors apiece. There have been comments about the proliferation of pinks, bright blues, even tinsel, jarring with the lovely greenery. A “low-point” came when someone installed a mini fairy playground (which was swiftly removed).
Le Fevre admitted that the more garish doors had started to vanish. He won’t say who is removing them. “I think it’s the goblins,” he said. “Our goblins have very good taste.”
Reluctantly, the trustees are planning to set up signs requesting restraint when it comes to fairy doors and are wondering whether to limit them to a particular area of the 12-hectare (30-acre) site, which features a stream, meadow, ornamental lake and snowdrops, bluebells and rhododendrons.
There was sympathy for the trustees from fans of the woods and doors. Jake Birkett, who visited the woods with his sons, said: “It is a magical place. My children loved running around and finding the doors. But I understand that the wood needs to be protected.”
Phaedra Perry, a regional manager for a charity, who said she often visited the woods with her young niece and nephew (who, aged six and four, are keen on fairies), agreed the doors were getting too numerous. “My niece and nephew love them. There are more and more every time we go. The woods are lovely – and I think it’s right to limit the number.”
Reference ~
Tree Weaver 