Ambitious proposals to create a new 850-acre forest in Hertfordshire have got the green light from the Forestry Commission (FC) for owners the Woodland Trust.
Planting plans can now become a reality at Heartwood Forest near St Albans after FC consent to a detailed Environment Statement submitted in August examining site archaeology, wildlife, impact on the local population, access, education and involvement of people in the forest creation. Read the summary at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/heartwood
Heartwood’s purchase was announced by the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, in July 2008 – prompting an ongoing £8.5m fund-raising campaign to buy, plant and manage the site.
Trust plans paint a picture of a forest with real ‘wow’ factor, inspiring, surprising and engaging the thousands expected to visit. The charity wants to closely involve local communities and businesses - with Heartwood acting as a hub for active recreation - and promises to have every one of the 650K native trees planted by a volunteer.
The site lies in the heart of London’s greenbelt and contains pockets of ancient woodland – the UK’s equivalent of rainforest – resplendent with bluebells in spring.
Heartwood will be the Trust’s largest site in England, joining 1,000-plus accessible woods across the UK and encapsulating the Trust’s key aims of protecting ancient woodland, creating new native woodland and spreading awareness of the benefits of woods and trees
It will provide publicly accessible greenspace for more than 250K people living within 10 kilometres, links with schools and colleges - with 1,011 primary and 400 secondary schools within 15 miles - and huge tree planting opportunities for children and community groups.
The Trust has listed a number of bird species of conservation interest in its detailed audit of what flora and fauna currently live on or close to the site, and details how other species will colonise Heartwood’s rolling acres – once wooded but claimed for agriculture as the centuries passed.
Its archaeology report., informed by desk based research, auger survey, magnetic susceptibility and trial trenching, has provided insight the site’s rich history from prehistoric times through Neolithic and Iron Ages and onto Roman occupation.
Key areas of archaeological significance will undergo further investigation and will be avoided in tree planting plans, drawn up with the help of a chartered landscape, confirmed Toby Bancroft, Heartwood project manager for Heartwood.
“We propose to retain views at key points, with most planting scheduled for the main ridge and site plateau, glades creating a wood pasture effect on lower slopes and graded woodland edges lessening the impact from roads and for those living nearby.”
“It is just brilliant news that we can now get on with this amazing project. Our environment statement consent by the Forestry Commission was a culmination of comments, opinions and consideration of issues, raised with the local population and a wide range of organisations to help shape proposals.
“It represented a broad concept tackling landscape, habitat creation options and the visual impact on our new forest, and we can now get on and refine those proposals and start making things happen.”Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
