Local residents join forces to save veteran Oak Tree!
In March last year, the Campaign to Save Leather Lane was born – to save the ancient holloway of 99 veteran oak trees, and a lone iconic Oak, known locally as ‘Ilona’ from destruction by HS2. HS2 have stated that Ilona must be removed for ‘visual screening’ as part of their Landscape design
In March last year, the Campaign to Save Leather Lane was born to save the ancient Holloway of Leather Lane and a lone Oak, known locally as Ilona, from HS2. A petition was set up by college student Blaize O’Callaghan and received over 43,000 signatures. At the same time, Richard Buxton Solicitors, who were acting in the High Court case of Keir v Natural England, HS2 and EKFB, regarding Jones Hill Wood nearby, wrote to HS2 once felling commenced, demanding to see Survey results. No survey results were provided and felling stopped upon threat of legal action.
Since last March, the Campaign has produced significant survey results to show that Leather Lane is, in fact, a highly active bat corridor and home to the endangered barbastelle bat which was the focus of the High Court case at Jones Hill. Ongoing pressure and engagement has brought HS2’s subcontractor, EKFB, to the table, along with engineers and ecologists to propose an alternative over bridge design which would take the Leather Lane overbridge to the North of Leather Lane and save the remaining 87 oak trees.
HS2 have stated that Ilona must be removed for ‘visual screening’ as part of their Landscape design.The fact that this majestic oak not only stands as an icon, nestled in the Chilterns, she also supports some 2,500 species and is known as a ‘hedgerow tree’. The connecting hedgerow provides shelter, nesting and crucial connectivity between habitats and would come down if Ilona is felled.
The Campaign, in conjunction with Great Missenden Parish Council, have made several well considered suggestions as to how Ilona can avoid the axe. HS2 could accommodate Ilona within their Landscaping design but they are continuing to state that she must be felled for visual and noise screening, which she has been providing throughout her 250 year reign.
Hundreds of people from the Chilterns and further afield have written to HS2’s Chief Exec, Mark Thurston objecting to HS2’s plan to fell her, demanding an explanation and a review of their plans.HS2’s plans are in direct contravention of their own Environmental Statement which incorporates the Mitigation Hierarchy which requires HS2 to AVOID ecological harm where possible.
One of the many local residents who wrote to Mark Thurston implored:
“If local people are trying to save this oak then listen to them and explain the issue rather than demanding ‘uniformity’ in landscape. Nature is not uniform. Trees show their strength by bending. Try it.”
Lindsey Spinks, attorney from Lawyers for Nature, said:
“HS2 made commitments at the time the HS2 act was passed in order to protect biodiversity and to avoid harm where possible. We expect HS2 and their subcontracters to respect and honour these commitments at all stages of the projec. It shouldn’t be down to local groups to uphold the law but this is what we are doing until these commitments can be met.”
The Campaign has registered Ilona in the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory.
As a result of ongoing pressure, it seems that HS2 are (finally) re-considering design plans for the area around Leather Lane. The Campaign are inviting local residents, interest groups and Councillors along with a selected audience of press to visit Ilona on Saturday 29 October from 12-2pm as part of the Woodland Trust’s ‘Check a tree week’.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/events/check-a-tree-week/
You can read our latest letter to HS2 here.
We stand side by side with The RSPB, The Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trusts and groups in support of The Attack on Nature Campaign and believe that we need to do what we can to protect our biodiversity in a time of climate change and huge biodiversity loss.