Pucklechurch Parish Council is delighted to be supporting the South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) project to develop a new woodland at Leigh Farm South.
This is a really exciting opportunity that is not only good for nature and wildlife, but will further contribute to the character of the area, is good for people’s health and wellbeing and will provide the community with access to a great new natural resource.
We want the community involved in this exciting project. Help will be needed to plant, stake and mulch thousands of trees in November and then longer term the overall project will need a ’Friends of Pucklechurch Woodland group’ to help develop and nurture this new woodland.
Rationale
As a public authority in England, Pucklechurch Parish Council has a duty to consider what it can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in accordance with the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and the Environment Act 2021.
With no land of its own, this project ensures S106 contributions for natural and semi-natural open spaces from the Oaktree Avenue developments are spent in the parish. It also provides the parish council with a unique opportunity to significantly contribute to biodiversity improvements in the parish while contributing to wider improvements to the vital green corridors in the area. Multiple benefits include:
- Contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Adding to the region’s ecological network
- Providing benefits to wildlife.
- Providing a new recreation opportunity for residents
- Providing health and well-being benefits to the community through interaction with nature
- Contributing to the parish council’s duties to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Pucklechurch Parish Council will work in partnership with others to support this SGC project with a range of agreed measures to complement and enhance the woodland flora and fauna to increase biodiversity.
The project is an excellent opportunity to proactively take actions to address climate change. By working with South Gloucestershire Council, the parish council contribution will contribute to SGC’s ambitious tree planting programme to double canopy cover in the area by 2030 and supports the Forest of Avon Tree and Woodland Strategy for the West of England. It also contributes to reversing biodiversity decline by improving, expanding and connecting important habitats in line with Common Connections aspirations.
Site location
Seasonal scrape
A concern has been raised about fencing off the scrape and its impact on the wildlife.
The professional ecologists at South Gloucestershire Council who are leading on this project want to do everything they can to develop the ecology of this natural seasonal scrape and indeed a further larger pond in the field nearest the M4. They have taken the decision to fence the scrape due to the high number of dogs that are walked in these fields. This is because the scrape is a still water feature and if left open it will be very vulnerable to chemical contamination from dogs entering the water. Two toxic insecticides Fipronil and Imidacloprid used in flea and tick treatments are known to harm aquatic insects which then has repercussions for the species that eat them. The other pond is not being fenced as the risks are lower as it has a more constant refresh of water.
It is a difficult balancing act but overall the ecologists felt that this larger pond along with other more hidden watering areas will provide accessible watering holes for the local wildlife.
Want to volunteer to help plant trees?
This does not prevent anyone from just turning up on the day, all help will matter how much or little will be appreciated.