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.