The Land Owner’s (The Church Commissioners for England) own impact assessments (pg 309) state: ‘With a development site of this scale, some impacts remain significant and are very hard to mitigate, especially in the case of disturbance from factors such as noise, lighting and increased human presence.’
So, if impacts from such huge development are hard to mitigate, what is the future going to be for our majestic ancient woodlands and what consequences will we suffer from their decay and eventual loss?
Our Ancient Dum and Dogloitch Woods provide:
-cleaner air.
-a place for relaxation and wellbeing. The benefits of green recreation are well researched, with ‘being in nature’ being prescribed by GPs.
-flood storage and protection
-urban cooling
-water filtration
-habitats for wildlife
-carbon sequestration
As highlighted in his latest article, Professor Ian D Rotherham a published author, researcher, writer, lecturer and broadcaster on environmental issues and wildlife, emphasises the need to consider the value of Natural Capital like our ancient woods of Dum and Dogloitch.
Professor Rotherham emphasises that the way to deal with climate mitigation is an holistic approach releasing the power of nature, he states ‘Older trees have far greater impacts on mitigating flood-risk, on climate proofing, on biodiversity and carbon sequestration’.
Professor Rotherham says that the recent article ‘Just 7% of UKs native woodlands thriving’ published in ‘The Guardian’ on Friday 14 April 2021 makes important points. Professor Rotherham says that ‘the situation is far worse than even this report states and across the UK groups are battling to save their ancient woods from destruction. Indeed, with little support from a planning system inherently favouring developers, localism and local communities have their backs to the wall’.
An exerpt from Professor Rotherham’s article below highlights 3 key areas:
- Planting has its place but first of all – stop the wanton destruction of existing woods and ancient trees currently happening across town and countryside. Planting does not compensate for destruction
- Allow nature to heal itself through natural rewilding – which is free, inherently sustainable and better for biodiversity and landscape
- Empower local communities to take back authority over the environment and nature on their doorstep and re-balance the planning system which totally disempowers local people
To read the full article by Professor Rotherham about ancient woodland, planning and climate change CLICK HERE to open in a new tab.