ANCIENT WOODLAND FACING THE AXE
West Lothian Council Urged to refuse planning permission
The Woodland Trust Scotland, part of the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, has launched a bid to save irreplaceable ancient woodland(1) at Pottishaw Farm, West Lothian from being bulldozed to make way for a garden centre, pet cemetery and a crematorium.
The Trust is urging West Lothian Council planning department to reject the application. If the development is given the green light, it would destroy a large area of ancient native woodland, which by definition is irreplaceable. Under current planning guidance(2), it is the duty of planning authorities to protect trees, groups of trees and areas of woodland where they have natural heritage value. Ancient and semi-natural woodlands have the greatest value for nature conservation.
The proposed development fails to recognise the value of the rare woodland habitat at Pottishaw Farm and conflicts with local plan policies. The local plan of 2005 designated this area of land as Countryside Belt to protect it from future development. In addition Env 22 of the local plan states “there will be a presumption against developments affecting woodlands unless there is a proven locational need and were sustainable environmental gain through replacement and additional tree planting is provided.”
Andrew Fairbairn, Development Manager, said “Ancient woods are our richest most important sites for a vast range of insects, birds, animals, flowers and are home to more threatened species than any other UK habitat. We simply cannot afford to lose them – I am astounded that this planning application has come this far. I would urge West Lothian Council to implement its duty to protect valuable sites for biodiversity and dismiss the application.”
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Notes to editors
(1) Ancient Woodland has been continuously wooded for many hundred of years and is one of the great glories of our natural heritage. Scottish Natural Heritage hold an inventory of Ancient Woodland. Ancient woods are our richest habitat for wildlife, including more threatened species than any other UK habitat. They are places of inordinate beauty, reservoirs of evidence for environmental change, archaeology and economic history and a source of inspiration for local culture and folklore. Our resource of ancient woodland is finite and cannot increase, so what remains is precious and irreplaceable.
(2) Ancient Woodland is not protected by a specific designation, however there are a number of planning and policy documents which should prevent development in relation to ancient woodland. These include:
National Planning Policy Guidance NPPG14
Pan 60
Scottish Forest Strategy
The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004
The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
The UK Forestry Standard
For media enquiries contact: Jacqui Morris on 01355 578777 or mobile 07979 706675 or
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust: The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres).
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. Today the Trust owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,100 hectares. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk
