TPO Granted - Making History!

Fantastic news! Members of the South & East Development Control Committee voted in favour of applying a blanket Tree Preservation Order to Grove Wood today, 29th October 2008. Praise goes to those councillors and officers for making a wise and brave decision in the face of opposition from their staff. Congratulations also to the Snuff Mills Action Group and everyone directly involved with the campaign. Thanks also to all the efforts of the public who have successfully lobbied the Council and overturned poorly delegated decisions which would have otherwise gone ahead. It's been long and arduous, to say the least! There were 35 formal requests for a TPO from the public, versus the landowner's single statement which he was denied reading as this was presented under the agent's name.

The TPO puts in force better protection for the wood, its wildlife and the public amenity of trees because the conservation status was considered to not provide enough protection for this historic area. This means that even the smallest tree in the 17 acres of part ancient woodland cannot be felled without a hefty fine and a requirement to replant it. It also saves the line of mature trees running up Blackberry Hill by reversing planning application 08/02173/DC which would have removed 27 trees in addition to those destroyed in January 2008 without any permission. There are no previous cases of this in UK legislation so the campaign has also made history!

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Council webcast:

http://www.bristol.public-i.tv/site/player/pl_compact.php?a=19675&t=0&m=wm&l=en_GB

Evening Post:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/People-power-saves-Bristol-woods/article-437843-detail/article.html

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Photo : 12th October 2008

Protest & Petition - 14th October 2008

Over 75 people attended the protest at the Council House prior to the 4,500 strong petition being presented to the Full Council Meeting. The administration made a special announcement which recognised the seriousness of the situation.

Photo : 14th October 2008

Tree 8 - Marked For Felling

This is one of several other live trees deeper in the wood marked for felling but it is not clear why. Natural tree fall is a feature of this environment.

Photo : 12th October 2008

Tree 7 - Marked For Felling

An older tree beside the river also marked for felling despite the wood being registered as ancient woodland with Natural England. Overhanging branches provide the perching for many kingfishers.

Photo : 12th October 2008

Litter

Litter abandoned beside the unused fencing. The degradation of the wood by the landowner is encouraging this behaviour.

Photo : 12th October 2008

Litter

Sex litter accumulating behind the portacabin.

Photo : 20th June 2008

Litter

Litter accumulating behind the portacabin.

Photo : 20th June 2008

Why The Tree Clearance?

Aside from the concern for the conservation area status, many people think the landowner and well known property developer is slowly clearing this corner of the wood for future development as it is the flattest part of the seventeen acres.

Photo : 3rd September 2008

Protest - 17th September 2008

About 30 people took part in the protest at the Council House, many of whom then attended the Development Control Committee meeting. This was a good turn out considering it was the middle of a working day. The Evening Post and ITV West covered the event. Whilst councillors wished to see the wood protected this was met with resistance from the tree officer who advised the trees' amenity can not be assessed, despite this being his duty and other Council sources stating they are of "medium to high" public amenity. We must ensure the Council enforces the conservation status of the area - otherwise there is no point in having conservation areas or planning laws!

Save These Trees!

Blackberry Hill, Bristol - this well known and beloved viewpoint captures the essence of this conservation area. Like so much of Bristol this entails wood lined river gorges, let alone the distinctive pennant stone architecture. However, the Council have given permission for these iconic trees to be felled in planning application 08/02173/DC - 27 in total. Whoever fells these trees is guilty of not only destroying the immediate area but will be diminishing the very character of Bristol. If you are the tree surgeon approached by the landowner please weigh up the environmental and moral values against any financial gain and consider whether these trees would be better pruned rather than chopped down. There is also currently an official complaint against the Council regarding undemocratic procedures and possible maladministration. If there is enough continued public support these trees will be saved. Please inform environmental bodies, news agencies and campaign groups who operate within the law and let's get this ridiculous decision overturned before we loose a very important nature haven. It is common knowledge that bats roost in these trees but a proper investigation has still not been conducted. An independent CAVAT assessment valued these trees at over £640,000, far exceeding the purchase of Grove Wood (£39,000). See the list of benefits these trees currently provide.

Photo : 16th June 2008

More Trees At Threat!

The trees behind the wall are currently at threat of felling in planning application 08/02173/DC. Trees as magnificent as these are why conservation areas exist as they put the heritage of important buildings into context, provide high public amenity and numerous other benefits.
Photo : 16th June 2008

Wall & Tree In Harmony

One of the ideas to fell the trees is to preserve the wall (a controversial issue in itself) but these images clearly demonstrate its strength and condition. They have been coexisting perfectly well for many years and Blackberry Hill Hospital has retained its trees beside the same wall. What do you think?

Photo : 26th June 2008

Dangerous Fencing

Inevitably, the temporary fencing got vandalised. For several weeks, neither the landowner or the Council made any attempt to remove this eyesore which also posed a danger to the public who regularly use the footpath. Locals got so fed up they cleared the obstruction themselves.

Photo : 22nd July 2008

Fencing Off The Wood

The landowner put up fencing which completely ruined the character of the area, along with the large portacabin. This did not make him very popular with the public or the Council.

Photo : 12th July 2008

Fencing Delivery

The landowner receives delivery of temporary fencing.
Photo : 11th July 2008

Protest - 7th July 2008

There was a peaceful demonstration against any further destruction of Grove Wood, in particular the Council's refusal to grant a Tree Preservation Order. They claim the trees don't meet the necessary conservation status and are more concerned about the wall and hearsay about tree root obstruction! Over 250 people aged from seven to seventy came out on a wet evening, sending out a clear message to preserve these trees.
Photo : 7th July 2008

Council - No Tree Preservation Order

This rejects the Tree Preservation Order requested by numerous people in order to preserve the conservation area and wildlife habitat.

Letter : 4th July 2008

Magic Trees!

These trees should be preserved for their magical powers alone! On the 21st June 2008 they moved themselves from the Riverside Unit to "Woodland at Blackberry Hill" (which is actually Grove Wood) in planning application 08/02173/DC. Was this another 'genuine' mistake?

Bottom Image : 21st June 2008

Healthy Trees Turned Into Logs

Many perfectly healthy young and mature trees were illegally felled and piled up along the river bank when the land was initially cleared in January 2008.

Photo : 7th June 2008

Map 1 - Title Plan BL64497

The boundary of the seventeen acres of natural woodland lying along the south side of the River Frome, part registered as ancient woodland with Natural England.

After The Mini Digger

Looking West, this is how the land looked after the mini digger.
Photo : 30th January 2008

Before The Mini Digger

Looking East, this is how the land looked before the mini digger.

Photo : January 2008

River Bank In January 2008

The wood turned into debris and piled up along the river bank.
Photo : 30th January 2008

Felled Tree Trunk Widths

The widths of different healthy trees which should not have been felled. All trees within conservation areas with a trunk diameter of 75mm measured at 1.5m above ground level are supposed to be protected by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and its Tree Regulations 1999.
Photo : 30th January 2008

Tree 6 - Buried Stump

The stump of this healthy tree was buried among the rubble.

Photo : 30th January 2008

Tree 5 - Mature Stump

This mature tree should not have been felled under the land's conservation status. At their widest the stumps measure 500mm and 250mm in diameter.
Photo : 16th June 2008

Tree 4 - Young Stump

With a diameter between 150mm and 100mm, this should not have been felled as young trees are important for the wood's regeneration.

Photo : 16th June 2008

Digging Up A Bank

This is what a mini digger can do. The earth was then illegally dumped along the river bank, ruining the habitat for protected species including otters and kingfishers. Was this an attempt to start leveling the land?

Photo : 16th June 2008

Wood Clearance

If you go down to the woods today... there isn't any wood!
Photo : 16th June 2008

Wood Clearance

The wood beside the roadside cleared for possible development.

Photo : 16th June 2008

Young Trees Destroyed

This is how the wood beside the roadside was before being cleared of saplings and young trees, reducing the natural habitat. Is the Council allowing this thinning out process?

Photo : November 2007

Council - No Replacement Trees

This exempts the landowner from replacing numerous trees which were illegally felled in this conservation area. Again, permission was granted retrospectively - planning application 08/00661/VD. This means there will be no new tree canopy to replace the existing trees in years to come, let alone a wood!

Letter : 4th March 2008

Tree 3 - Marked For Felling

A live Hawthorn marked for felling. Send your objections to Bristol City Council (Planning Department) to save this and other trees. Involve other organisations in order to get the trees protected!

Photo : 12th June 2008

Digger Delivery

Was this an attempt to do more ground works or 'accidentally' knock down some more trees?

Photo : 10th June 2008

Planning Application 08/02173/VC

The planning application to fell numerous trees along the roadside incorrectly sited the trees in neighbouring land. These magnificent trees should be protected by Tree Preservation Orders and possibly thinned if they are considered dangerous.

Photo : 7th June 2008

Tree 2 - Root Base

A tree of similar age and within yards of Tree 1 which didn't split its trunk but pulled up its root base, probably as a result of high winds.

Photo : 10th June 2008

Tree 1 - Whole Canopy In River

The whole tree canopy blocks the River Frome as well as the daily flight path of numerous kingfishers. Other trees have also mysteriously fallen down.

Photo : 10th June 2008

Tree 1 - Split Trunk

The trunk split a few feet up from the ground in what appears to be a perfectly healthy tree on loose ground. Is this tree sabotage as there appear to be no natural causes like disease or high winds?

Photo : 10th June 2008

Tree 1 - Blocking The Footpath

A large tree blocks the public right of way. Could this be another attempt to restrict public access?

Photo : 10th June 2008

Public Access Restricted

The wood includes a short driveway which has been blocked off although its been walked through for many years.

Photo : 8th June 2008

Public Access Restricted

The landowner blocks off a path which has been used for generations, even though it appears on maps. People are in the process of getting this categorised as a public right of way. The top path and riverside path are public rights of way but the landowner has been trying to frighten people away.

Photo : 8th June 2008

River Bank In June 2008

Wood, shale, earth and other debris piled up along the massive stretch of the river bank, thus radically altering the natural habitat for otters and other protected species. Could this be the beginnings of a dam to assist a future planning application?

Photo : 7th June 2008

Fire, Hut & Sign

Fires have been regularly burning in this conservation area which many people think are an attempt to smoke out the bats. If the landowner is allowed to clear the wildlife and protected species it will be easier to get planning permission to build on the site.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

Fire & Smoke

Smoke disturbs bats which are a protected species. The activity of strimming and removal of undergrowth scares away wildlife, reptiles and small mammals which are also a food source for other animals, including mice which are eaten by owls.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

Portacabin Is Hardly Used

This portacabin was put in the woods on 30th May 2008. The Council initially said any building, even a temporary one, would need planning permission but retrospectively granted consent. This disregards the public amenity of the woods as well as making a mockery of planning law.

Photo : 30th May 2008

Workman's Vehicle

The workman's vehicle which has been parked in the wood without planning permission.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

Landowner's Vehicle

The landowner's vehicle which has been parked and driven through the wood without planning permission.

Photo : 2nd June 2008

The Wood Bulldozed

The initial assault on the wood in January 2008, presumably to try to take advantage of less public presence - just one month after the land was bought at auction for £39,000.

Photo : 26th January 2008