Natural England roused itself from slumber yesterday, perhaps after reading this blog (you never know – they do, you know!), and uttered a few weak words on the disappearance of a male Hen Harrier from Geltsdale in Cumbria. It’s good to know that Natural England is ‘very concerned’ about the state of a species on…
Category: THE STATUTORY AGENCIES: NE, EA, FE etc
Forest Holidays – in case you missed it
Do you remember the case of Fineshade Wood (see here, here and here for example)? Back on 17 March Rupert de Mauley was answering questions in the House of Lords on the subject. Note the fact that Forest Holidays ‘is unlikely to be able to progress a site if it does not have the full…
Natural England seem to have lost the West Pennine Moors
I view the north of England pretty much as an enigma wrapped in a cloth cap and walking a whippet. I’m better on the east of the country than the west where everywhere seems to be a town beginning with B, and it is indeed the area between Bolton and Blackburn with which we are…
PR on either side of Kew
I’m a little bit puzzled by Kew Gardens. I’ve been asked a few times to sign e-petitions asking for their budget not to be cut but so far I haven’t done that. Here are two rather contrasting e-petitions: Urgently reverse existing, proposed, and further cuts to RBG Kew’s annual operating grant in aid (105000 signatures)…
Not so Fine Shade (8) – perfectly Fineshade!
Yesterday evening’s decision by East Northants District Council was the right one, and was arrived at through a mixture of heart and head. David Williamson, speaking for the Forestry Commission demonstrated no ecological understanding of the importance of this site and his message to the councillors was essentially ‘Don’t worry dears, it’s all OK really’. …
Not so Fine Shade (7) – a good decision!
East Northants District Council Development Control Committee decided, about half an hour ago, to refuse planning permission for a 70 holiday cabin development at Fineshade Wood. I think it was 11 against and one abstention with none in favour (2 members absent and the Chair and Vice chair not voting). The grounds for refusal were…
Not so Fine Shade (6) – the council decides
The future of Fineshade Wood is becoming a local cause celebre with national resonance. My Guardian blog has, so far, been shared on social media about 2000 times, and received over 150 comments (mostly shocked at what is going on there). The e-petition on this subject has passed 3000 signatures. The chief executive of the…
Not so Fine Shade (5) – privatisation by the back door?
This is a piece I have just had published on the Guardian website which puts Fineshade into the wider political context. Why has the FC allowed Forest Holidays to submit a planning proposal with such inadequate data? Where are those who opposed forestry privatisation when it was proposed by the front door, now it is…
Not so Fine Shade (4)
Many people have contacted me over the role of NGOs in the Fineshade case. It’s not universal, but there has been a lot of criticism of the Woodland Trust for being very keen on ancient woodland, and being very keen to be paid to plant completely new woodland, but being a bit ambivalent about spending…
Not so Fine Shade (3)
This morning a group of about 20 concerned locals gathered in the Fineshade car park to meet the local MP, Andy Sawford. It was good to see Andy paying attention to this local rural case, though, as he said, he doesn’t have a vote, but if he did, he said he would vote against the…