Bid to save wood
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 29th April 1999.
A BOTANIST is optimistic that a wooded area at Haverhill may be saved from development after discovering what may be unique old varieties of fruit trees there.
Residents of the Deans Close area have already gathered more than 200 signatures on their petition against development of the woodland area close to their homes.
Meldire Ltd has submitted a planning application to St Edmundsbury Borough Council to build 20 homes on part of the six acre site off Dovehouse Road.
The plans submitted show that the firm later hopes to build another 40 homes on the remainder of the site.
Botanist Jenny Embrey, a senior lecturer at Homerton College, Cambridge, visited the site at the invitation of residents.
She described it as "a lovely little area" and just the breathing space the town needed from over-development.
"There is an established field maple, a very old piece of hedge and some very old fruit trees which might well be varieties not found anywhere else any more. I think the national collection would be very interested in the history of the site.
"I was very touched by the way people all turned out to do their bit. They want to save it, but they don’t know how to go about it. I think it would make a great Millennium Wood.
"There are funds available to establish new woods and they are just the kind of things you would plant, but it would take years to get established trees and hedges like that," Miss Embrey said.
Council leader Gerry Kiernan attended a meeting with residents and promised a wildlife study would take place to see if the wood could be protected.
Residents of the Deans Close area have already gathered more than 200 signatures on their petition against development of the woodland area close to their homes.
Meldire Ltd has submitted a planning application to St Edmundsbury Borough Council to build 20 homes on part of the six acre site off Dovehouse Road.
The plans submitted show that the firm later hopes to build another 40 homes on the remainder of the site.
Botanist Jenny Embrey, a senior lecturer at Homerton College, Cambridge, visited the site at the invitation of residents.
She described it as "a lovely little area" and just the breathing space the town needed from over-development.
"There is an established field maple, a very old piece of hedge and some very old fruit trees which might well be varieties not found anywhere else any more. I think the national collection would be very interested in the history of the site.
"I was very touched by the way people all turned out to do their bit. They want to save it, but they don’t know how to go about it. I think it would make a great Millennium Wood.
"There are funds available to establish new woods and they are just the kind of things you would plant, but it would take years to get established trees and hedges like that," Miss Embrey said.
Council leader Gerry Kiernan attended a meeting with residents and promised a wildlife study would take place to see if the wood could be protected.
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