Plans to expand a quarry will result in the loss of 32 hectares of Oaken Wood. But why do we care?
Oaken Wood is ancient woodland and will have been wooded since at least 1600. Ancient woods are very special, they have a myriad of benefits such as providing homes for our wildlife, cleaning the air we breathe or simply providing a place to walk our dogs.
In reality ancient woods usually stretch back further than 1600, with many developing naturally after the last ice age. It is impossible to replace the complex ecological processes that have developed over hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Many of the species found within ancient woods thrive on the relatively unchanging conditions provided. These species tend to be slow to react to a changing habitat and find it harder to survive when their surroundings do change.
Oaken Wood and Wildlife
Located west of Maidstone, Oaken Wood is predominately sweet chestnut coppice which historically was a valuable crop. Surveys carried out by Kent Wildlife Trust have confirmed that Oaken Wood is ancient and of county significance, well worthy of its Local Wildlife Status.
If you look carefully you can find species such as Pipstrelle and Natterer’s bats, dormice, reptiles and much more. It has a diverse range of plants, including plants that have a natural affinity with ancient woodland such as bluebell, wood anemone, pendulous sedge and wood melick.
All ancient woodland is precious and irreplaceable. Once gone it cannot be recreated so we need to make sure we look after what we have. We must act now to save Oaken Wood.
The story so far
In 2010 plans were submitted to Kent County Council for permission to extend the existing Hermitage Quarry into Oaken Wood.
Over 1000 people objected to permission for this planning application being granted but unfortunately the application was granted permission in May 2011.
The applicant has been adamant that the extension is necessary to meet the demand. An independent planning consultant analysed the need; looking at existing mineral consents (e.g. other quarries with planning permission to extract aggregates) already in place in Kent. Their work showed that enough stone can be produced through the existing quarries. Oaken Wood could be destroyed for no reason.
We joined forces with Kent Wildlife Trust to request that the application was called in by the Secretary of State for further consideration. This was supported by over 5000 of you. The local MP, Helen Grant, even asked a Parliamentary Question about Oaken Wood. An amazing response!
The application has now been called in for further scrutiny. A public inquiry into these plans will start in October 2012 and we are preparing our evidence to enable us to defend Oaken Wood.
Is a quarry really that bad?
If plans go ahead there will be a direct loss to Oaken Wood – around 32 hectares. There will be a devastating effect on the remaining wood. An independent report commissioned by the Woodland Trust has indicated that there are a number of negative impacts on woodland from adjoining land use.
Briefly:
- Quarrying is noisy (e.g. blasting, processing, warning sirens) and involves other physical activity likely to cause disturbance in nearby woodland (e.g. large-scale movement of substrate, dust, vehicles).
- Dust and chemical drift produced by quarrying and mineral extraction can affect woodland several miles downwind.
- The extension will result in the isolation of the woodland from other habitats which stops species moving between different types of habitat and also cause them to avoid the woodland near the quarry.
Find out what you can do to help us save Oaken Wood here.