On Thursday June 10th from 4pm, Bristol City Council's Cabinet will be discussing whether Grove Wood should be declared a Local Nature Reserve and whether they should consider compulsory purchasing the woods to secure its future for wildlife and public enjoyment. A Local Nature Reserve designation would ensure the wood is properly managed for wildlife, public enjoyment and educational use - what people have been campaigning for since 2008. Please make your email personal and please mention anything that you feel would help make the Local Nature Reserve happen.
You can help make this happen by:
1) Emailing democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk no later than noon on Wednesday June 9th stating why you think the Council should declare an LNR and buy Grove Wood - the criteria for designation are below to help you write your email. title your email: Grove Wood - Cabinet Discussions or something similar.
2) Asking to speak at the Cabinet Meeting on June 10th - you need to request this in the email you send the Council.
3) Joining Snuff Mills Action Group outside the Council House on College Green on Thursday June 10th at 3.30pm to show how much you want this to happen - make and bring banners!
For a Local Nature Reserve to be declared, Grove Wood will have to fulfill these criteria:
1) It should be more than 2ha in size - it's at least 14ha we believe.
2) Capable of being managed with the conservation of nature and/or the maintenance of special opportunities for study, research or enjoyment of nature as the priority concern - it is an ancient woodland that could be managed for wildlife and over a hundred people have written statements to show that they use it for public enjoyment.
To become a LNR the woods should also be either:
a) Of high natural interest in the local context - An ecological report reveals rare plants, protected bats, otters and kingfishers, you could say what wildlife you have seen there in your email to the Council OR...
b) Of some reasonable natural interest and of high value in the local context for formal education or research or - We are in discussions with the Museum service about a big education project to compare Grove Wood with Snuff Mills to find out why they are so different, there is huge potential educational use in Grove Wood, but this cannot happen while it is in unsympathetic ownership OR...
c) Of some reasonable natural interest and of high value in the local context for the informal enjoyment of nature by the public - over 100 people have written evidence statements about their use of Grove Wood for legal sports and past-times as part of our application to have it declared a Town Green.
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