Ancient woodlands now only cover less of 3% of England’s landmass, yet the charity the Woodland Trust has estimated that 1,200 woodlands may be under threat.  Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Councillors want to see Oldham Council at the forefront of the fight to protect our nation’s remaining irreplaceable legacy of ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees. 

Saddleworth West and Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani will be proposing a motion at the next full meeting of Oldham Council (16 December 2020) calling for more protection for these trees:  “In Oldham, we are all well aware of the threat of development hanging over our natural landscape with plans to build a significant number of new homes on our Green Belt.  While other elements of our physical landscape may have been worked and managed by humankind over the centuries, ancient woodlands and veteran trees have stood untouched.”

“Despite what may happen in the future, ancient woodlands and veteran trees must remain as irreducible symbols of our past. We can learn from them, we can cherish them, and as elected members and as a local authority, we must do all that we can to protect them.”

Saddleworth North Councillor Garth Harkness is backing his Liberal Democrat colleague.  Commenting he added: “The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework has put planning protection for ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees on a par with the protection afforded to historic buildings, like palaces and castles, demonstrating that their loss to our nation would be too high a price to pay whatever the development.”

“The Liberal Democrats hope that our new Local Plan will mirror the best practice of other local authorities and the excellent guidance from the Woodland Trust to ensure that ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees in this Borough are comprehensively protected for our future generations to enjoy.”

Council December 16, 2020 – Notice of Opposition Business

Turning over an old leaf

Council notes:

• That the revised NPPF (2018) put protection for ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees on a par with the best of our built heritage.
• The NPPF states that: “When determining planning applications, local planning authorities should apply the following principles: …… c) development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons”.
• That over 1200 Ancient Woodland sites across the UK are under threat from development.
• That other local plans have included protections on Ancient Woodlands in their local plans, with recommended wording provided in the Woodland Trust’s document “Planning for Ancient Woodland”.

Council recognises

• That the forthcoming Local Plan provides an opportunity for us to ensure that Ancient Woodland is protected across our Borough;
• That protection is required before the Local Plan is delivered to ensure that Ancient Woodland remains protected in the interim period;
• That not all Ancient Woodland has been properly identified, and it is important that a clear route is available to identify and protect Ancient Woodland across the borough

Council resolves

• To consider inclusion of the protection of Ancient Woodland into its forthcoming Local Plan, and include that as a theme within the forthcoming Issues and Options consultations on the emerging Local Plan.
• To write to the Secretary of State to ensure that any changes to the planning system do not remove the rights of Local Councils to protect Ancient Woodland as part of their planning policies
• Subject to any adoption of a policy on Ancient Woodland as part of the Local Plan, to include in later consultation an opportunity for residents to identify Ancient Woodland sites throughout the borough which should be covered by protection.

Proposed by:                                                                      Seconded by:

Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani                               Councillor Garth Harkness