Press Release

Final approach to environmental destruction

11 March 2008
 
Second runway application shows BAA has no regard for natural environment 
 
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) - of which the Woodland Trust are members - today described BAA’s planning application for a second runway as “going beyond environmental vandalism and being tantamount to a declaration of war on the local community and global environment.” The campaign has pledged to use every means at its disposal to defeat these plans.

BAA's preferred option is to build a new runway to the east of the existing runway. In their own consultation document BAA recognise that this would cause destruction of five ancient woodland sites covering 19 hectares. We object to the plans for a second runway because of the damage that would be caused to the forest and the other ancient woods and ancient trees that surround the airport.

Ancient woodland is an irreplaceable habitat having been wooded since at least AD1600. It is our richest habitat for wildlife and is protected in national planning policy (Planning Policy Statement 9). Despite this BAA is planning to carve a runway through the middle of these sites.

Ed Pomfret of the Woodland Trust’s explains: “Ancient woodland is an irreplaceable habitat and is one of the most bio-diverse habitats for wildlife found in the UK, home for many precious species or flora and fauna. BAA’s offer of new woodland to replace ancient irreplaceable woodland is like smashing up Ming vases and replacing them with budget mass produced crockery.”

Less than two per cent of Britain is covered with ancient woodland, if Stansted’s proposed expansion gets the go ahead, five ancient woods will be razed to the ground destroying the habitats of a host of rare and threatened species like the dormouse, bluebell, oxlip, early purple orchid and glow worm.

Ed Pomfret continues: “These plans would destroy three ancient woodland sites covering 20 hectares and will also contribute to climate change. We believe this proposal is completely irresponsible and unnecessary.”

There is also a much wider environmental consideration. The planning application comes at a time of mounting concerns over the impact of the rapid growth in flying upon climate change. A second runway at Stansted would add the annual equivalent of 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the UK's carbon footprint – wiping out the combined annual saving from switching every household in the nation to low-energy light bulbs and the entire output of all the wind turbines that have so far been built in the UK.

Woods directly affected

Philipland Wood (TL582246) would be cleared for the new runway. The wildlife value of this site would be greatly enhanced by a resumption of coppicing, which would obviously be a lost opportunity if the airport were expanded further. Although only part of this site is undisturbed ancient wood, the boundary is indistinct and the site as a whole is included as a Wildlife Site in recognition of its value as a large woodland are which retains a varied flora and fauna.

Round Coppice (TL528224) this 4.54 hectare ancient woodland would be cleared for parking. Contains Oxlip, dog’s mercury and bluebell abundant in the ground layer

The Wilderness (TL542224) a 4.76 hectare ancient woodland would be destroyed by an apron and cargo development.

Pigeon Wood (TL556245) this 1.88 hectare ancient woodland would be destroyed by airfield development.

Priory Wood (TL533215) part of this site would be lost and it would be subject to increased degradation. Priory Wood is a7.16 hectare ancient woodland has a very rich flora. In 1938, Priory Wood was compulsorily purchased by the British Airports Authority to make way for airport roads. In the process, part of it was destroyed. Thousands of oxlips flower during April to May. Further destruction of this habitat should be prevented.

Woods indirectly affected:

Eastend Wood would be indirectly affected by increased pollution. English Nature’s designation of Elsenham Woods SSSI which includes Eastend Wood describes it as containing a “mosaic of woodland types”, including mature pendunculate oak, ash, hornbeam, aspen and birch. Regular visitors to Eastend Wood report great crested newts in the wetter areas. Bird species include garden warblers, blackcaps, lesser spotted woodpeckers, woodcock and snipe, which nest in the woods. Thousands of oxlips flower in late spring. Orchid varieties include the early purple, birds nest and helibore. Pipistrelle bats can be seen at dusk.

Hatfield Forest, (SSSI) is nationally renowned as a virtually intact medieval Royal Forest. The site comprises ancient coppice woodlands, unimproved grassland with scattered pollards, marshland and a lake. There is considerable concern that the tree canopy of Hatfield Forest is suffering due to the continual bombardment of unspent aviation fuel over the forest. There are claims that the trees are dying from the top downwards. The National Trust is running a campaign to save Hatfield Forest

Pledgdon Wood is one of only two known Essex locations for wych elm. The coppice layer in both woods contains ash, hazel and field maple. Ground flora includes tufted hair-grass, pendulous sedge, dog’s mercury and frequent oxlip.“ The site also contains a number of damp grassy rides and small woodland ponds which form valuable additional habitat for invertebrates and birds,” state the designation notes.

High Wood (SSSI) could be affected by a new highway. This wood has a rich and varied flora. There are isolated stands of plateau alder, a woodland type scarce in Essex. Ground flora includes dog’s mercury, primrose and, in the wetter areas, pendulous sedge, meadowsweet and tufted hair-grass. Part of High Wood has already been lost, at its south-west corner, due to the new A120. There is no reason for a highway to pass through or close to the edge of the site

Runnels Hay: Described by one local resident as “the best bluebell wood in the area”. Oxlips flower in late spring. “Dominated by hornbeam coppice, with some ash and pendunculate oak on the boundary. The ground flora is surprisingly luxuriant, given the dense hornbeam canopy, with an almost total carpet of bluebell as well as pignut, wood anemone and red campion.”

Other woods that would be at least indirectly affected include:

• Home Wood

• Lady Wood

• Eseley Wood

• Pigeon Wood

• Priors Wood

• Hawland Wood

• Houghty Wood

• Parsonage Spring

• Alsa Wood

• Cranfield Hart

• Hoylands Wood

• Bush Wood

• Harts Grove

• Birchanger Wood

• Digby Wood, Broom / Burney Woods

• Airfield Wood

All of these ancient woodland sites varying in size between one and thirty hectares would be indirectly affected by expansion of the airport.

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