Bucks MP meets Wildlife Trust to see likely impacts of HS2

Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan met Matt Jackson, Head of Conservation and Strategy at BBOWT on Friday 28 June to see at first-hand the woodlands that will be damaged by the HS2 proposals in her constituency.

Mrs Gillan is due to speak tomorrow (Wednesday 3 July) in a Westminster debate about the impact of HS2 on ancient woodlands, and was keen to see Mantles Wood and Sibley’s Coppice,ancient woodlands that will be directly affected by HS2.

Although the Government has agreed to extend tunnelling for HS2 in the Chilterns to reduce the visual impact of the rail line, the current proposals have a twin-bore tunnel emerging directly through Mantles Wood, west of Amersham.

The proposed high speed line then runs straight through two more ancient woodlands, Farthings Wood and Sibley’s Coppice, before it leaves Mrs Gillan’s constituency at Jones’ Hill Wood, between The Lee and Wendover Dean. This fragment of ancient Chilterns woodland would be clear-felled to make way for the new rail line.

Matt Jackson also took the opportunity to speak to Mrs Gillan about the issues emerging from the draft Environment Statement for HS2.

BBOWT is currently examining the draft Environment Statement in detail; it sets out some of the impacts and HS2 Ltd’s proposals for minimising them, and compensating for them where they cannot be avoided.