Vanessa divides her time between Hertfordshire and the Hebrides and loves to write about birds, butterflies and beachcombing. She gave up corporate life during the pandemic, taking the plunge to follow her passion for wildlife. Recently finishing a Masters in Nature and Travel Writing, she has been announced as a Runner-Up in the BBC Countryfile New Nature Writer of the Year competition. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @elgeeko1506.
A Prayer of Protest
I walked a route that is my ‘local patch’ from Harpenden Road to Heartwood Forest in St Albans at the weekend. As I crossed the fields at Cheapside Farm along the historic Hertfordshire Way, I saw a proposal to construct 1000 three or four-storey buildings named Woollam Park on precious greenbelt land.
After reviewing the proposal, I am dismayed by the size and scale of the planned development and felt compelled to object. I was also moved to write this ‘prayer of protest’. If you, too, would like to raise an objection, you can add your views on the proposal by searching for application number 5/2024/2271 on the St Albans planning portal. Comments can be submitted up to the 26/4/25. Thank you.
In Living Memory
You don’t know this place like I do. There’s a tree stump I’ve named Hornets’ Hollow, where mini tangerine bombers hawk pests on farmers’ fields. This is their HQ.
Further along is Badger Track, where desire lines spread out like a map, and snouts scour the earth for worms. If you look closely, you’ll see where they dug the soil last night.
This path is bordered by stitchwort below the hedgerow, lighting up the verge like stars, where brimstone butterflies spiral and flutter. Then there’s yellowhammer corner, where the wildflowers and long grass grow; a place to pause in the summer sun.
And not forgetting Robin’s Copse, of course. The trees where I first met the bird who helped me through lockdown, and now his chick has become the firmest of friends. If you listen, you can hear him sing.
There are already thousands of homes here; it is just that you, dear developer, don’t see them. To you, there are no pound signs attached to them. No doubt you’ll name some roads in memory of the creatures that once lived here. Gravestones standing in a cemetery that once housed their territories
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Passion pouring out of your pen and very psyche in those powerful words of protest. Thank you for caring, Vanessa.
Very moving. I picked up on the fact that the plans are for three and four bedroom houses. Definitely not starter homes and I am guessing none of them will be social housing. Sounds like this plan does nothing to solve the housing crisis whilst destroying valuable natural habitat.