Natural England in row over Cornwall coast path bench at The Lizard

Joy Prince paid for a replacement bench at Crane Ledges, between Lizard Head and Caerthillian Cove, in memory of her husband John following his death 2003.

It was a location where they would walk to enjoy the sunset after moving to the village four years earlier, sitting on an existing bench that was becoming old and had started falling apart.

She said that Natural England had supported her request back then, with the ranger at that time even helping transport and build the replacement bench, which she has then maintained over the years.

It has since become an extra special place for her and her family to remember John, with their daughter Juliet even receiving a proposal there in 2019.

Joy's daughter Juliet being proposed to at the bench in August 2019

However, she recently found the bench destroyed – she claims by horses grazing the area, after a temporary fence normally put around the bench was not added this year – and that despite willing to compromise on style and material, including offering a granite bench, she had been told she could no longer put a replacement there in that location.

Natural England has now told Mrs Prince that over the last decade there had been a change in policy, which was now to remove fixtures and furniture that have reached the end of their life – although it has offered a "less obtrusive alternative", built into the Cornish hedge, which it said was 50 metres away.

But Mrs Prince said she feared that anyone walking by would not realise the the bench was there to sit on if it was off the path – particularly visitors to the coast path who would not be expecting to see it.

Joy Prince on the bench a few years ago, with the hedge marking the proposed location of a new bench behind

She posted on the village's Facebook page to say: "Natural England has decided that I am not allowed to replace it. Obviously as John's widow I am upset but also know just how well used that bench was by tourists and locals and so feel I must set the record straight so that everyone knows why the bench is no longer there."

She has since received 162 comments on support from villagers, with many describing the news as "awful", saying they often sat at 'John's bench' and that it was their "favourite spot to sit."

Mrs Prince told the Packet: "I was staggered by the response. I didn't realise so many people felt so strongly about it."

Natural England said it had been contacted by a number of local residents about the bench.

Natural England say this would be the view from a new bench further up Picture: Natural England

In a statement it said: "We recognise the historic connection Mrs Prince and others have with the spot and the local National Nature Reserves team have offered the opportunity for a thoughtfully positioned bench built into a Cornish hedge just 50m away.

"The spot is directly behind, above and overlooking the site of the previous bench and offers the same stunning view. It is also at a slight remove from the busy thrum of the South West Coast Path offering a calmer location for contemplation.

"We have extended an invitation to meet and discuss this option with Mrs Prince. It was never our intention to cause upset, and for that we offer our sincere apologies."

It went on to add: "We would encourage all our visitors to find their own spots for quiet enjoyment and there are all manner of ledges, perches, boulders and hedges to discover.

"Every year on The Lizard we have several requests to site formal memorial benches, which we respectfully have to decline, and direct those people to other conservation and community projects which would benefit from support."