Pave paradise, put up a parking lot.

[Workingman]

The Environment Secretary, the man charged with protecting our environment, has come up with a scheme for developers to offset the destruction of ancient woodlands by planting trees and shrubs somewhere else. You know the sorts of places: Forest of Dean, New Forrest, Epping, Sherwood, Wyre, Brecon, Cannock Chase........

He is not so clear about where the new woods would be created, what would be planted there, or what the land was previously used for, except that they will not be brownfield sites. He is also very shy about why these ancient woodlands need to be destroyed except that it is to aid the economy.........

With 'friends' like Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, the place certainly does not need enemies.

[cromwell]

Nice isn't it? Chop down a few forests and create some nice, high price houses, doubtless situated in beautiful countryside. Then plant a few sad saplings along a dual carriageway to "balance things out" (then chop them down a few years later).
No ta.
The only God in this country is the great God of The Economy, before whom all must bow.

That's why I loathe our politicians so much. I think. They have no appreciation of beauty, only money. They are ALL in the pockets of big business.

The beauty of the countryside matters nothing to them; the amount of money their developer chums can make does matter to them, a lot.

[KateLMead]

That is unless these atrocities are carried out near them. " in their own back yard as it were"

[Kaz]

Doubtless Paterson _ a man I loathe due to the badger cull - has a family member or friend with some interest in this. A sawmill perhaps, a furniture warehouse chain? Who knows the reason but there will be something in it for him or his, you can bet on that!

[TheOstrich]

We have this thing in the Midlands called "The National Forest". There are roadsigns up announcing it on major routes. It seems to cover a huge arc from Burton on Trent through to Leicester. They say they have planted 8m trees so far, but it doesn't seem very visible - I can only recall seeing one newish-looking plantation from the M42, somewhere up round Ashby de la Zouch .......

You can't replace ancient woodlands overnight. It's another reason why I'm so against the environmental destruction which will be caused by building HS2.

[Aggers]

That's why I loathe our politicians so much. I think. They have no appreciation of beauty, only money. They are ALL in the pockets of big business.
.

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a hell of a lot of 'back-handlers'involved.

[JoM]

We have this thing in the Midlands called "The National Forest". There are roadsigns up announcing it on major routes. It seems to cover a huge arc from Burton on Trent through to Leicester. They say they have planted 8m trees so far, but it doesn't seem very visible - I can only recall seeing one newish-looking plantation from the M42, somewhere up round Ashby de la Zouch .......

You can't replace ancient woodlands overnight. It's another reason why I'm so against the environmental destruction which will be caused by building HS2.

I think it's signposted around the area of the National Memorial Arboretum as well (don't recall seeing that many trees there either, considering it's an arboretum).

Frank, it's already starting in a way on the edges of Cannock Chase and it's only a matter of time before Forestry Commission land is sold off. I can think of three places within a mile or two of our house which are earmarked for new housing. The first is a massive development of new houses, shops and a school on farmland which is bordered by the Chase on two sides, woodland will be destroyed to enable this to be built. Another is on the edge of our estate, and would take part of the common. That's just a small development of 18 housing association homes...but it's a start isn't it?! Woodland would be lost there too.

On a side issue to all of this development, we have the problem with flooding.This village is built in a valley and as more and more homes are being built flooding is becoming more of a problem. The main A34 is regularly under water and houses on the opposite side of it to us have been flooded out regularly since an estate was built behind them.

[TheOstrich]

It's not really woodland, but a big furore round here as Birmingham City Council want to expand into the green belt to build 12,000 houses in an arc between Hill Hook and Minworth (north east of Sutton Coldfield). Plans have now been scaled back to 5,000 houses, but the locals are still revolting. Developers have snapped up the farmland involved and are agitating for the building to go ahead, needless to say.

As a counter-blast to this, I believe enough signatures have now been raised on a petition to force Birmingham to devolve local government powers back to the old Sutton Coldfield Borough Council or whatever it was, i.e. the town breaks away from Birmingham. I think a referendum has to be held. Could be very interesting!!

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/lo ... ay-3909483

[KateLMead]

Am I correct when I write that it costs the public purse over £4',000 to kill each Badger.

[JoM]

Here you are Kate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25622644