Tree Weaver

The ‘eco homes’ plan so absurd locals thought it was an APRIL FOOL joke! Developers want to tear down 70 trees to create an ‘urban oasis’ in historic woodland in famous Cadbury’s village

A business consortium has sparked fury in a British village famous for its Cadbury chocolate factory over plans to cut down historic trees and build ‘eco homes’ instead.

Bournbrook Secret Woods’s plan for an ‘eco village’ has angered residents of Bournville, Birmingham, after it was revealed 70 historic trees would be cut down to accommodate eco homes, a treetop walkway, car park and large community centre.

Residents, who have fought off plans for homes and phone masts on the woodland, thought the plan was an ‘April Fool’ after discovering the consultation website on April 1 but soon realised it was genuine and have since called on Birmingham City Council councillor Mary Locke to intervene.

The consortium claims the plan will ‘regenerate a mismanaged, long forgotten and overgrown woodland into an urban oasis of biodiversity’.

But residents have hit back and claimed the area is already a ‘perfect eco environment’ with a rich diversity of foxes, squirrels, hawks and butterflies.

Ria, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said: ‘The area is already a perfect eco environment. ‘We see foxes sunbathing on our garden and squirrels visit everyday – we’ve even seen harrier hawks visit our garden. How can anyone think that destroying all this natural beauty is eco-friendly?’

Residents have also said the consortium’s claim the woodland is a ‘hive of anti-social behaviour’ with habitual fly tipping and illegal tree felling is false.

The land was purchased by Bournbrook Secret Woods Ltd for £75,000 in November 2022. The company is comprised of James Hewson, Lee Blake and Melissa Jones, none of whom appear to live in Bournville.

Residents are also worried thousands of visitors attracted to the eco village’s community centre would turn their quiet drive where children often cycle into a busy road.

Some claimed the green space at the top of Sparrey Drive, where children play during the summer, would also be lost to the eco village.

There have been numerous attempts to build on the land over the years, from houses to phone masts, and each application has been rejected by residents.

Sparrey Drive, along with its branches of Hawkes Close and Lea Yield Close, was created on the site of the once busy Cadbury railway sidings in 1985 – the final train of chocolate having departed some seven years earlier.

The Cadbury brothers moved their chocolate business to the area from the backstreets of Birmingham and opened the Cadbury factory in 1879.

Soon after, they founded the model village of Bournville which took its name from the nearby River Bourn and the French word ‘ville’, meaning village.

By 1895, 143 cottages were built for the factory’s employees over a total of 140 acres of land. They were intended to be ‘decent quality’ with spacious rooms and good sanitation – the antithesis to Birmingham’s overcrowded slums

The factory had a field next to it where men were encouraged to play cricket and football as well as a garden and playground for women, according to Cadbury.

Comments from the Consultation Document {below}

THE HISTORY OF THE WOODS
This once beautiful, tranquile and long forgotten woodland was previously owned by the Cadbury Family and has been left untouched for over 100 years. Nestled between Bournville and Stirchley, this 3.5 acres of land used to boast luscious green spaces, a variety of trees and be home to diverse wildlife. Unfortunately it has now become a hive of anti-social behaviour including; fly tipping, drug use, people sleeping rough, locals chopping down trees to use as firewood and teenagers drinking and shouting late at night. Bourn Brook runs along the bottom of the woods and a beautiful walk that once linked the canal to Stirchley has been lost to many dead trees and overgrown bushes. It is our dream to continue the Cadbury Family legacy and reopen this secret wood so that the local community and visitors from all over the UK can enjoy the surroundings, play, work and live here for years to come.

We anticipate that day trippers to Cadbury World, dog walkers, joggers and families would make good use of the wood everyday. We will effectively create a new, stunning space where people will congregate, talk, exercise and be social.

THE BIG ECO-BUILD
To even consider developing a woodland initially seems at odds with a conservation outlook, which is why picking the right build to sustain the natural environment is fundamental. This space deserves a sympathetic approach and our ambition will see desperately needed new eco homes provided, from 1-bed to 4 bed with provision for social housing too. Sustainability is key and at every possible opportunity, we will utilise the latest eco technologies to ensure the build becomes an exemplar to carbon neutral communities.

We will utilise cutting edge renewable technologies such as; ground source heat pumps, triple glazing, flexible solar panels and locally prefabricated modern methods of construction all aimed at delivering first class eco-homes that are future proof. Along the way, we plan to engage with local schools and youth groups to share our vision and learning and to demonstrate how building green from the start pays dividends in the long run, with the new home owners having extremely low running costs. We want to be proud of what we achieve and make sure the local community is glad we have chosen this site for the project.

PHASE 1
THE SECRET WOODS
Hidden away for decades, these woods are under-utilised and badly managed. The initial ecological report highlights that for the last 50 years, self sown trees have been allowed to grow unabated, stealing light and growing too big, diminishing the variety of flora and fauna. As a result, low quality Sycamore trees dominate the landscape, which are reaching maturity and will start to die, causing problems to other trees, any walkers and nearby properties. Our arboricultural consultant agrees that the majority of category U trees should be removed for the greater good of the woodland. We plan to sensitively build around the B rated trees which will thrive given more space and light. The Secret Woods will be home to up to 6, 3 storey sustainably built eco houses magically floating on stilts with undercover car parking. Linked by a private road off Sparrey Drive, these inspiring structures will become part of the surrounding woodland, blending in with the landscape. A public foot / bike path with disabled access, a treetop canopy walk bridge and an outdoor natural gym situated on the banks of Bourn Brook are all part of the overall plan.

PHASE 2
STIRCHLEY ECO EDUCATION &
COMMUNITY HUB
Lessons learned and technology employed on the build should be shared, so as part of the community development element, we intend to build an eco education and community hub.

The brand new visitor attraction will be owned by a Community Interest Company with any surplus revenue being reinvested into environmental projects across Birmingham.

Functionality to be imagined alongside user groups but likely to include;

Co working space – Reducing city commutes for those needing desk space
Business incubator space – Encouraging shared ideas and entrepreneurship
Community rooms – Subsidised, bookable room hire for groups and individuals
Community cafe / coffee shop
Eco-education centre – Sharing knowledge and providing contacts
Accommodation above – Schools, Scouts, Youth groups and tourists will be able to stay
Cycle hire
Car pool
Fruit orchard
Bee hives
SEECH will be a unique eco-led education and community hub, resulting in more visitors staying longer and spending more in the local community – increasing economic activity and providing jobs for local people. We plan to educate thousands of people each year on the benefits of carbon neutrality.

FULL CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ~ click link below.

https://www.bournvilleecovillage.co.uk/

https://ukdaily.news/westmidlands/anger-at-eco-village-offer-in-cadburys-backyard-plan-to-cut-down-70-trees-in-bournville-woods-195973.html

Hidden away in an archaeological park near Naples, Italy, a wild fig tree has been growing upside-down for decades. Its roots are embedded in the ceiling of an archway, meaning the plant’s branches – which sometimes bear fruit – hang towards the ground.

This strange tree is set in the modern-day town of Bacoli, the site of the lost town of Baiae, which is often referred to as Las Vegas for the uber-wealthy of ancient Rome – a hedonistic weekend break destination.

The common fig tree, Ficus Carica, is native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia, but now it can be found in every corner of the world. The edible fig was one of the first plants ever that humans cultivated. Ancient fig fossils have been found in the Jordan Valley, North of Jericho,and they date back to 9400-9200 BC.

Edible fig was very widespread in Ancient Greece, and it was also a popular food source for the Romans as well. So, it’s quite likely that the wealthy guests of Baiae were feasting on figs too.

Most of the ancient town – which lies near Naples – is underwater today, but the parts of it remain on land and can be explored in the Parco Archeologico delle Terme di Baia.

The Italian reference site Storie di Napoli says that the tree grew upwards in a normal fashion until the 1940s, but when excavations of the archaeological site began, the tree was destroyed. However, its roots survived, giving life to a new tree that grew from the peculiar position from which it hangs today.

It seems to be getting all the nutrients it needs – the Royal Horticultural Society says that fig trees ‘need a warm, sunny, sheltered spot’ to grow, adding that ‘restricting their roots encourages fruiting’.

While the archaeological site has long drawn in visitors, the upside-down tree has become a minor tourist attraction in itself.

Tripadvisor reviewer ‘Bidule05’, who toured the archaeological park, declared: ‘We were amazed to see a fig tree growing upside down… it was the highlight of the visit!’

Contemporary Italian writers such as Antonella Cilento and Patrizia Rinaldi have even woven this peculiar tree into their stories, Storie di Napoli adds.

The fig tree can be found a stone’s throw from Parco Archeologico delle Terme di Baia’s Temple of Mercury, which actually served as a Roman baths rather than a temple.

According to historians, the ancient town of Baiae was where the rich and powerful of Rome came to drink and be merry – and indulge in debauchery.

In the TV series Secrets of the Dead: Nero’s Sunken City, Professor Kevin Dicus, who has experience in excavating these Roman ruins, said: ‘Some of the greatest names of the Roman republic… Caesar, Cicero, Mark Anthony, Nero, all of these men had villas at Baiae.

The ruins that have been lost to the sea can be explored via a glass-bottom boat tour or on a guided scuba excursion.

Know Before You Go

It is not really hard to find with a car and a navigator. Just arrive to Baia/Bacoli and follow the street signs.

References

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/upside-down-fig-tree

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-11894719/amp/Pictured-bizarre-fig-tree-thats-growing-upside-ruins-ancient-Roman-town.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=upside+fig+tree&source=lmns&bih=724&biw=412&client=ms-android-ee-uk-revc&prmd=isvn&hl=en-GB&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2yIu93vL9AhX6pycCHTa9AX0Q_AUoAHoECAAQBA

Cambridgeshire council plan to chop down orchard of 500 mature trees – to make way for a ‘green bus lane’ 

• The decision was voted in despite 2,300 opponents signing a petition 
• Coton Orchard, near Cambridge, is a designated habitat of principal importance

Coton Orchard, near Cambridge, has around 1,000 trees producing 26 varieties of apples, as well as plums and pears, and is a designated habitat of principal importance.

But county councillors voted 33 to 26 in favour of the new bus-only route which will link the university city with Cambourne, a growing new town eight miles away.

The decision came despite 2,300 opponents signing a petition and impassioned pleas during the full council meeting to reconsider the ‘utterly destructive’ proposal.

Anna Gazeley, whose family own the orchard which was planted in 1922 told councillors: ‘Traditional orchards are hotspots of biodiversity in the countryside, supporting a wide range of wildlife as well as an array of nationally rare and nationally scarce species.

Anna Gazeley’s father Albert bought the orchard in 1996 after returning to Cambridgeshire from Hong Kong. “My father bought this nearly 30 years ago as a way to stop development, to preserve the fruit-growing heritage of Cambridgeshire and to preserve his own memories of growing up here in Cambridge.”

“The fruit trees at Coton Orchard were first planted for the production of apples for the wholesale trade in Covent Garden and latterly for the production of apple juice and cider. One hundred years on and it is one of the last few traditional orchards left in the UK and the largest in the county. No longer economically viable as a fruit farm, development of a garden centre on the fringe has afforded the present owners the ability to preserve the original orchard, leaving it relatively untouched and a haven for wildlife.”

“The option in front of the council would bisect the orchard with a new road, destroying at least a third of the trees and replacing it with tarmac, leaving it unmanageable as an orchard. The disruption and noise from construction and any buses that would run along it in the future will drive out the remaining wildlife presently calling Coton Orchard home. In the midst of a biodiversity emergency, it is clear that we need to protect our habitats now more than ever. An off-road routing through the orchard, especially when a less costly (both environmentally and economically) option exists, is beyond foolhardy.”

They are designated habitats of primary importance and rightly accorded protections. ‘

Steve Oram, orchard biodiversity manager at the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, said the £160 million bus route was an ‘utterly destructive proposal’, adding the environmental loss ‘cannot be compensated for’.

Coton Parish Council has previously warned the guided busway would save just 1.5 to 3.5 minutes on a typical journey compared to using an on-road bus lane.

But Lib Dem council leader Lucy Nethsingha referred to a UN report this week which highlighted the need to decarbonise economies.

She said: ‘Quality public transport links are a key part of decarbonisation.. Moving to a net zero economy cannot be done without changing the way we travel.’

The council will seek approval from the government and a public enquiry will take place before a final decision is made.

The scheme was devised by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, which is already under fire for hugely unpopular proposals to introduce a £5-a-day charge for cars – more for vans and lorries – on weekday journeys to, from and within a zone that covers virtually the entire city.

THOSE AGAINST

James Littlewood, chief executive for Cambridge Past, Present and Future, had appealed to councillors to act in the interests of nature.

“Everyone wants to see better public transport to the west of Cambridge but we shouldn’t have to destroy our environment and heritage for future generations in order to achieve that,” he told the Cambridge Independent.

“There is a viable alternative scheme for a bus lane on the existing road which could achieve similar journey times, is less damaging to the environment, is far less expensive and can be delivered more quickly. All we are asking is that the two schemes are properly compared before a decision is made.”

The C2C busway will link Cambourne and Cambridge via the new Bourn Airfield development, a new travel hub at Scotland Farm, Hardwick, and the University of Cambridge’s West Cambridge campus.

The Friends of the River Cam, a voluntary organisation, described it as a “Trojan horse”, designed to open up new areas of greenfield land for housing and industrial development.

“Building concrete runways through ancient orchards and other green spaces at vast expense is a method of increasing land values and making them easier to build on – not solving Cambridge’s dreadful traffic congestion as the GCP claims,” said Susan Buckingham, a spokesperson for the river group.

She added: “There are far better ways of extending existing roads for more bus use than busways dreamed up by an unrepresentative GCP whose advisory group is packed full of those with commercial interests.”

Sharon Cairns, of Coton Loves Pollinators, said: “We are horrified by the proposal to run a 20-metre width of tarmac across the historic Coton Orchard. This traditional orchard is a designated Priority Habitat, the largest of its kind in Cambridgeshire and of recognised national significance. It is a simple fact that no mitigation scheme can compensate for the loss of this habitat, which includes an ancient hedgerow foraged by protected rare bat species.

“Moreover, it makes no sense for our local politicians to back wildlife recovery projects on one hand, whilst at the same time also backing projects which destroy irreplaceable habitat, especially when there is a viable alternative.”

Chris Pratten, of Save the West Fields, added: “We are horrified that the GCP is continuing with plans to build an unnecessary road across the West Fields. The proposed route requires a significant ‘flyover’ to be built over the Bin Brook at the eastern edge of the West Fields, despite the High Court having previously agreed that this area of Green Belt is important to the historic setting of Cambridge. There are other less damaging options.”

change.org Petition

Reference

https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/campaigners-plead-with-councillors-to-reject-cambourne-to-ca-9304134/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-65020767.amp

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11887559/Cambridgeshire-council-plan-chop-orchard-500-mature-trees.html

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://mobile.twitter.com/ClimateRealists/status/1638436654900813825&ved=2ahUKEwjKkMrMn-_9AhXERcAKHYddBUsQFnoECCQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2AZzeA3NLeICD73h5a001A

We are days away from the spring equinox. May sunshine bless all our hearts ☀ 💛 🌞

Council sparks fury as workers begin chopping down 129 trees ‘under cover of darkness’ as part of controversial £12.7million regeneration project.

The Conservative-run Plymouth City Council suddenly gave the green light on Tuesday evening to remove more than a hundred trees following months of delay – despite facing heavy criticism over the plans.

Campaigners collected more than 12,000 signatures as part of a petition against removing the trees but the council pressed ahead, citing the need to create a ‘business friendly’ centre as part of a £12.7m regeneration.

Protesters turned out in Plymouth city centre after contractors moved in to cut down the trees but were well outnumbered by police and security guards.

An environmental group quickly appealed for a High Court injunction which was issued at 1am, forcing contractors to halt work, but by the time it was delivered the vast majority of trees had already been felled, with only around 12 now remaining.

The contentious move has been blasted by environmental activists, with Springwatch host Chris Packham weighing into the debate to criticise the council.

BEFORE

AFTER

When the removals began, Plymouth County Council assistant chief executive Giles Perritt said: ‘We need to get on with this scheme. We’ve listened, we have made more environmental improvements and have added more trees but our core priority has to be creating a smart, business friendly, attractive, city centre.

‘We cannot lose sight of why we wanted this scheme to happen in the first place. We know some people will not be happy with this but we hope that the majority of our residents will appreciate that we have done all we can to address people’s concerns.’

Work on the £12.7m regeneration was due to start this spring after being put on hold in November 2022 due to the row over tree removal.

The Conservative-run council carried out a ‘meaningful community engagement’ on the plan in February and yesterday evening, and its leader Cllr Richard Bingley signed off a decision notice for the scheme to go ahead.

Some defended the development, arguing that the trees and plants would be replaced by others once the scheme had been completed – but their voices were largely drowned out by others who slammed the decision as ‘appalling’.

Labour MP Luke Pollard said: ‘Appalled Plymouth’s Conservative council are chopping down one hundred trees in the city centre right now under the cover of darkness. They have not listened to local people.

‘We are in a climate emergency and their actions are nothing short of environmental vandalism.’

Charlotte Holloway, Labour councillor for Drake Ward and Plymouth, said on Facebook: ‘Feeling incredibly sad and dejected tonight at what is happening to the Armada Way trees. You go into politics to try and make a difference and then things like this are forced through completely at odds with the vast majority of public sentiment I’ve heard.

‘I want a modern, vibrant, thriving Plymouth fit for the future. And that 100% can be done without taking away the trees that I and so many others played by growing up as a child here.’ Labour Councillor Chris Penberthy added he was ‘shocked at the brutal way this decision has been made and implemented’.

He wrote: ‘Ultimately the decision to remove these trees sits with the Conservative administration elected by the people of Plymouth in May 2021.

‘Plymouth Labour would not have approached the Armada Way development in such a cavalier manner and we would have prioritised meaningful community engagement from the outset.’

Campaign group STRAW (Save the Trees Armada Way) took aim at the council on its social media channels, saying: ‘We are witnessing monsters in the night. Monsters that destroy trees and monsters that sit behind desks ordering their destruction.’

Commenting on the Plymouth Live Facebook page, Caroline Tall said: ‘Absolutely disgusting. PCC have excelled themselves this time. They will regret this.’

Oll Lewis added: ‘I think if you have to do something in the dead of night for fear the people who actually vote for you might try and stop you, that should be a MASSIVE CLUE that what you are trying to do is stupid, unpopular and wrong.’

A Plymouth City Council Spokesperson, said: ‘We can confirm that the Council received an injunction at 12.57am to cease the further removal of the trees on Armada Way.

‘We instructed contractors to stop work immediately. We will be obtaining legal advice once we have received the claimant’s application, as directed by the court.’

She sat at the back and they said she was shy
She led from the front and they hated her pride
They asked her advice and then questioned her guidance
They branded her loud then were shocked by her silence

When she shared no ambition, they said it was sad
So she told them her dreams and they said she was mad
They told her they’d listen then covered their ears
And gave her a hug whilst they laughed at her fears

And she listened to all of it thinking she should
Be the girl they told her to be best as she could
But one day she asked what was best for herself
Instead of trying to please everyone else

So she walked to the forest and stood with the trees
She heard the wind whisper and dance with the leaves
And she spoke to the willow, the elm and the pine
And she told them what she’d been told time after time

She told them she felt she was never enough
She was either too little or far, far too much
Too loud or too quiet, too fierce or too weak
Too wise or too foolish, too bold or too meek

Then she found a small clearing surrounded by firs
And she stopped and she heard what the trees said to her
And she sat there for hours not wanting to leave
For the forest said nothing, it just let her breathe

The beautiful picture is by Siski Kalla from our children’s book of this poem
https://a.co/d/6fcwvfj

And the poem itself is also in the collection Talking to the Wild
https://a.co/d/9FFiRrW

Killea, County Donegal, Ireland
This unique piece of woodland art was created by forester Liam Emery, who suffered a brain injury following a car accident soon after planting this lovely tribute in 2010, right in the middle of a forest that resembles the island of Ireland,

Liam never got the chance to tell family or friends what he had done. It was made using over 3,000 trees of two varieties. It was only when the trees came to fruition (the Japanese Larch began to turn yellow) that his work was fully appreciated. The larch trees are similar in colour to the others for much of the year, but their leaves turn a beautiful shade of gold in autumn, making it an exciting landmark for the county.

Sadly Liam died in 2011 aged just 51.

The cross was never part of a master plan for the area, it was the work of Liam as a mark of his passion for Irish culture and heritage whilst planting a new wood for the Irish Forestry Board.

Liam’s work is now loved and cherished by all who can see it. His work was first seen by passengers and crew coming in to land at Derry Airport several years ago {2016}. The cross measures more than 100 meters in length and 70 meters wide.

It is such a beautiful tribute to the Irish Celtic Cross and indeed to the man himself that it is cherished by all. And the fact that he never told anyone about it makes it a very bittersweet reminder of our mortality.

Horticultural expert Gareth Austin told UTV that this vision of the cross in the forest could be visible for the next 60 or 70 years. He also commented on the massive amount of skill involved in creating such a piece of art.

Austin said “It’s not just cutting patterns in your back lawn, this is sizeable horticultural engineering.

“Liam created that and gave the gift of that to the rest of us, and we’re going to appreciate that for the next 60 or 70 years.”

What an amazing legacy to leave behind for generations of Irish and visitors to enjoy.

References

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/gigantic-celtic-cross-secretly-growing-forest-ireland

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishcentral.com/travel/emmery-celtic-cross-donegal.amp