Chiltern Residents Stop HS2 in their Tracks

A stronghold group of local residents joined forces this weekend to celebrate a monumental breakthrough in a ‘David versus Goliath’ campaign to save an iconic lone veteran Oak, locally known as Ilona, from unnecessary destruction by HS2.

As part of the campaign effort, over 200 letters were personally written to HS2’s CEO Mark Thurston, each with their own reason for protecting Ilona and their beloved historical landscape. HS2 are responding to residents to say that, “HS2 are now reviewing their plans”

This weekend some 30 people, including local and former residents, Parish and Bucks councillors, local landowners and farmers, as well as local and national environmental groups, along with the Woodland Trust, gathered in support and to exchange relative historical and personal stories about Ilona; acknowledging her importance to the landscape, wildlife and local community. The meeting also marked the registration of Ilona with The Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory. .

Ilona the Oak is some 250 years old and supports approximately 2,500 species. She has lived through 10 monarchs, 65 Prime Ministers, 2 World Wars, the Industrial Revolution  and the climate crisis we are currently living in.  Her canopy is 18 metres wide, which  has provided shade, solace and inspiration to local residents for generations.  She is neither in the way of the track or the haul road, but HS2 plan to fell her as part of their “landscaping designs” and intend to replace her with “visual screening” and saplings that would do nothing to mitigate the loss of a heritage oak like Ilona.  She was, and still is, shown as standing on maps published at the time the HS2 Bill was passed, so it has come as quite a shock to residents and local councillors that they now wish to fell her.

Sarah Green MP stands vehemently behind the campaign. Her letter of support states:

“I urge HS2 Ltd to find a way to save Ilona……I call on HS2 Ltd to live up to the commitments they have made, including adherence to the mitigation hierarchy, and do all that they can to protect the Chilterns from further harm.”

This is the first time that a group of AONB residents have challenged HS2 and their contractors by conducting their own surveys, carrying out research and  producing reports;  culminating in meetings with HS2 and their subcontractors in order to hold them to account and review their plans.

Catherine Bunting, Green councillor for Great Missenden Council, Parish Councillor and representative of Prestwood Nature Environment group, comments:

“As a local Green councillor, I’m just so grateful to the local campaign for standing up for these trees, I find it frustrating that locals need to raise the money themselves and take this fight but l’m also so grateful for all those who got involved and to the local bodies who have got behind it.”

The Campaign continues to attract support and admiration from local and national campaign groups. In July this year, Carol-Anne O’Callaghan was awarded the prestigious Guardian Angel Award for recognition of her hard work to protect the environment.

The Wildlife Trusts, Friends of The Earth, RSPB, Chiltern Conservation board, Prestwood Nature and The Woodland Trust have been in full support from the outset. The local grassroots group equally stand side by side with the above organisations in full support of The RSPB’s  Attack on Nature Campaign, a rapidly expanding  like minded movement campaigning hard to ensure that legal protection rights of our precious trees and ecosystems are not lost which are currently being challenged. It has never been more important to  protect our biodiversity in a time of climate change and huge biodiversity loss.

Jack Taylor, Lead Campaigner from the Woodland Trust wrote in support of the event:

“When new development is planned near to such trees, the planners and ecologists working on those developments must have these trees at the forefront of their mind. If we are to work towards addressing the UK’s current state of nature and climate emergency, then making sure mature trees are retained and protected is fundamental.

“That’s why we support the Save Leather Lane campaign – HS2 Ltd must listen to the concerns and make the changes necessary to save Leather Lane’s fantastic population of mature trees!”

Bucks Councillor Jane McBean who has been a key support of the campaign adds:

“It is the passion, diligence and tenacity of the Save Leather Lane group that has brought forward alternative design plans, proved the existence  of vital bat colonies in the absence of proper HS2 surveys, and galvanised community action to preserve the very fabric of Leather Lane instead of destroying it.”