As a Woodwatcher I check the planning lists for Cornwall on a weekly basis. The location of developments are checked using Google maps, the Woodland Trust Map, Old-Maps and my geographical knowledge of the area. The Woodland Trust map is an interactive map which will highlight any ancient woodland 2 hectares or more on the Natural England Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) which is available to download from Natural England. Ancient Woodland that is 2 hectares or less is not on the Inventory so the Old Maps website can be checked to see if an area has been continously wooded.
The Woodland Trust Map also highlights individual veteran trees, notable trees and ancient trees.
Once it has been established that ancient trees are going to be destroyed or that a development is close by to ancient woodland we write a letter of objection or an advisory letter such as reminding the developers of root protection zones and what guidelines and legislation should be referred to to protect ancient woodland. We normally refer to Planning Policy Statement 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation(PPS9) which states:
" Ancient woodland is a valuable biodiversity resource both for its diversity of species and for
its longevity as woodland. Once lost it cannot be recreated. Local planning authorities
should identify any areas of ancient woodland in their areas that do not have statutory
protection (e.g. as a SSSI). They should not grant planning permission for any development
that would result in its loss or deterioration unless the need for, and benefits of, the
development in that location outweigh the loss of the woodland habitat. Aged or ‘veteran’
trees found outside ancient woodland are also particularly valuable for biodiversity and
their loss should be avoided. Planning authorities should encourage the conservation of
such trees as part of development proposals.
Through policies in plans, local authorities should also conserve other important natural
habitat types that have been identified in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
section 74 list, as being of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in
England6 and identify opportunities to enhance and add to them".
However with the recent changes to Englands planning system it looks like the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which is one concise document will give a more or less default 'yes' to development, this is worrying for ancient woodland as is the leaked Rio document relating to Ancient Forests.... Ruth Davis, chief policy advisor for Greenpeace states "Goals to end destruction of ancient forests, tackle over-fishing, phase out dirty energy subsidies, and deliver access to clean energy for the poor are either open-ended or pushed back for years".
