The Duchess of York has said she is horrified at plans to destroy more than 80 historic trees to build a warehouse near Junction 7 of the M3.

Writing exclusively in The Gazette this week, Sarah said the plans “must be brought to a halt before its too late”.

The 61-year-old new grandmother has fond memories of the countryside around her childhood home in Dummer and said the trees earmarked for demolition inspired her book, The Enchanted Oak Tree.

“I have the most vivid and happy memories,” she said.

“I remember my father telling me always to recognise and be grateful for the beauty of our surroundings, a lesson I have carried into adulthood and passed on to my own daughters.

“One lesson he taught me in particular was to admire trees: to look up and drink in their magnificence and to feel a sense of awe at their importance in the landscape.”

Last month, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s development control committee granted full planning permission to Newlands to build a major distribution warehouse on the land, known as Basingstoke Gateway.

Assurances were given that the project would not be visible from the village of Dummer. However, it was noted that the felling of 80 historic trees would be necessary.

Parish councillor for Dummer Julian Jones said there will be “disruption” to a host of wildlife as a result while, during debate, Cllr Chris Tomblin (BDI, Bramnley) said he was “mortified” by “no objection” from environmental health.

Cllr Hannah Golding (Conservative, Oakley and the Candovers) added: “I have seen nothing that would reassure me that this land would be protected in order to mitigate the landscape harm.”

Read more: Amazon warehouse plans get green light from Basingstoke council

However, despite rejecting outline permission for the full proposal of four warehouses, the green light was given to the single building - thought to be intended for use by Amazon.

A petition set up by Dummer residents, aimed at saving the trees from destruction, has so far gained more than 95,000 signatures, while a letter to the council from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said the charity was “very disappointed” at the decision to destroy the “ancient woodland”.

Six MPs, including Basingstoke’s Maria Miller, have called on central government to ‘call in’ the decision.

The Duchess of York said the Dummer Oak trees inspired her recent children’s novel ‘The Enchanted Oak Tree’.

“The book was designed to pass on the magic of an old oak tree to the next generation, inspired by the trees I grew up with,” she said.

Sarah added: “We cannot afford to keep losing valuable trees from an already fragmented landscape.

“I really cannot bear the thought that anyone would think it possible to cut down these incredible trees that have inspired me for decades for storage space. These plans must be brought to a halt before it is too late.”