Latest news with #ancientwoodland
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
The ancient Foxley Wood reserve in North Norfolk is to expand
A conservation charity has acquired 100 acres of ancient woodland to expand an existing nature Norfolk Wildlife Trust said that the new land would increase the size of its reserve at Foxley Wood, in North Norfolk, by more than a of the woodland are known to have been there for 6,000 years, and it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its value for Collin, an area manager for the trust, said they intended to use the expanded area to create a "mosaic of habitats". The Wildlife Trust said that the purchase of the land next to their existing reserve was made possible by several said that the most significant of these had come from legacies left to the trust by Graham Churchyard and Adrian Gunson, Adrian's widow, is a "wildlife guardian" for the said she was "very happy to release Adrian's legacy to help with this purchase", because they had "always loved Norfolk, and its rich and varied wildlife". Foxley Wood is Norfolk's largest area of ancient well as using the expanded area to increase visitor access, the trust said it also hoped to create new habitats for rare plant Collin, from the trust, explained that the wildlife they hoped the resulting plants would encourage included "butterflies such as purple emperor and silver washed fritillary and birds including tree creepers and nuthatches"."We will create new and eco-friendly ways for people to enjoy some of Norfolk's most special wild places," he said.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Appeal against Nether Wasdale ancient woodland development ruling
Appeal against ancient woodland development ruling 10 minutes ago Share Save Federica Bedendo BBC News, North East and Cumbria Share Save Google The Planning Inspectorate has received an appeal against a decision by the Lake District National Park Authority An appeal has been lodged against a national park authority after it told a homeowner to tear down unauthorised buildings in an ancient woodland. The Lake District National Park authority (LDNPA) refused to give retrospective planning permission for a fish pond, summer house and garage built on land by a cottage in Nether Wasdale, in Cumbria. The LDNPA said giving permission would "consolidate the harm" that had already occurred on "an irreplaceable habitat" and ordered owner Glen Race to return the site to its original state within three months. He has lodged an appeal with the government's Planning Inspectorate against the LDNPA's action, calling it "hopelessly ambiguous". Documents show the cottage had been built as accommodation for the owners of the nearby Low Wood Hall Hotel and was turned into a private home when the hotel shut in 2019. The LDNPA wants Mr Race to knock down the summer house and garage and said the change of use from woodland to garden had been carried out without permission. Plan to restore woodland Documents show the Woodland Trust said the use as a garden could cause damage to ancient woodland soils, plants and disturb wildlife. The appeal submitted by Mr Race said the enforcement notices by the LDNPA did not "detail precisely" what he was required to do. It added that he had lived there since 2021 and some of the breaches, including removal of some trees, had happened before he bought the property. "In the circumstances it is argued that the notices are nullities and should therefore be quashed," the documents said. The appeal papers said Mr Race planned to submit a management plan to restore the woodland and said this was a "more appropriate manner" to address "adverse impact" to woodland. The papers also said if the bid failed the cottage owner would ask for 12 months to carry out the work, instead of the three. The Planning Inspector is expected to make a decision in due course. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
