Largest loss of English ancient woodland this century “horrifying” says leading conservation charity
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The largest loss of ancient woodland in England this century is “horrifying, completely unnecessary, and must be stopped”, according to the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, the Woodland Trust.
The Trust strongly objects to proposals that place 100 acres (40 hectares) of Oaken Wood in Kent – an irreplaceable, ancient woodland – under threat, after Kent County Council voted to support a quarry expansion that would destroy the forest.
Oaken Wood, designated as a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site on Natural England’s Ancient Woodland Inventory, has been allocated as the hard rock site in the Kent Mineral Sites Plan.
Jenny Schofield, regional director of South East England for the Woodland Trust said:
“We must not stand by and watch the biggest loss of ancient woodland in England this century. There can be no justification for the avoidable destruction of this vast, living, national treasure. These plans are horrifying, completely unnecessary and must be stopped.
“Ancient woodland cannot be replaced or moved. Destroying this enormous, ancient woodland contradicts both national planning policy and Kent County Council’s own policies. Kent County Council has failed to show that there are special circumstances that could justify such a catastrophic and permanent loss.
“Oaken Wood is brimming with wildlife. Its trees and soils support complex ecosystems that have grown and developed over more than a thousand years. Dormice, owls, fungi and ancient soils so rich that they, and the trees they sustain, lock up significant amounts of the carbon we produce, cool rising temperatures and help reduce flooding. This summer we can all feel it as our streets, our workplaces and our homes, get hotter. There couldn’t be a worse time to bulldoze a healthy forest.
“For centuries, beloved Oaken Wood has provided cultural inspiration and folklore to the people of Kent, more than 26,000 of whom have already formally opposed its destruction. Stripping it out of the English landscape forever, to acquire some heritage building materials would be a devastating mistake. Our living heritage cannot be replaced or rebuilt, and once ancient woodland is gone, it is gone forever.
“We urge the Government to find a suitable alternative that doesn’t threaten ancient woodland and protects this irreplaceable part of England’s natural heritage now and forever.”
Oaken Wood, also known as Barming Wood, is a sweet chestnut plantation on ancient woodland. Sweet chestnut trees were often planted in response to the regional need for long, straight and durable wooden poles, such as hop poles. Plantations on Ancient Woodlands (PAWS) are given equal protection to any other ancient woodland within the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), regardless of the woodland’s perceived condition, its size or the features it contains.
The site allocation is contrary to national policy which affords a high level of protection to ancient woodland, as well as to Kent County Council's own policies, including its Kent Tree Plan, Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Minerals and Waste Plan.
The National Planning Policy Framework states that “development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists." Oaken Wood's allocation as a quarry site doesn’t meet either test.
Members of the public can share their views on the proposals until 10 September.
Consultation responses must focus on whether the plan is legally compliant and sound, including whether it has been positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national planning policy.
The Woodland Trust is joining with Kent Wildlife Trust, Friends of Oaken Wood and other groups to urge people to read this guidance on how they can respond to the consultation.
The Woodland Trust is an evidence-led organisation, using policy and planning expertise to assess the impacts of development on ancient woodland and veteran trees.
Notes to editors
About the Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust was established in 1972 and is now the UK's largest woodland conservation charity, with more than 500,000 members and supporters.
With a vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, today the Trust owns and cares for more than 1,000 woodland sites, covering around 33,000 hectares.
The Woodland Trust has three key aims:
protecting the UK's rare, unique and irreplaceable ancient woodland
restoring damaged ancient woodland, nurturing precious pieces of our natural heritage back to life
establishing new native woods and trees to create healthy, resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.
Access to all Woodland Trust woods is free so everyone can experience the physical and mental benefits of trees.