In previous posts we have mentioned that the next few months will be a critical time for the future of Thorpe Woods. Over the last year local people have fought to save these much loved woods, however the owners remain determined to build an estate of over 600 houses over them.
Currently the woods are not included within Broadland District Councils plans for housing development and our in fact identified as green space.
However as a result of the recently adopted Joint Core Strategy the council have placed Thorpe Woods, and the surrounding area within what is called a Development Triangle.
Over the next 3 to 4 months the council will be selecting sites within that triangle for development and identifying sites that should be retained as green spaces. It is essential that Thorpe Woods retains it protection as a green space within these new plans and is not identified as a potential site for development.
This is where you can play an important part in making clear to the council that you want Thorpe Woods to be protected and safeguarded from any threat of development.
The council are about to consult on the Area Action Plan which will identify where within the Triangle future development will be allowed to take place. Next month they will be holding two exhibitions which look at this consultation and possible sites for development, these are taking place at:
Morse Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Laundry Lane, Thorpe St Andrew, NR7 0XP
on Wednesday 28th September between 12.30 and 7.30pm
Thorpe End Village Hall on Thursday 29th September between 12.30 and 7.30pm.
Following on from these the council will be holding a series of workshops which will cover development plans and most importantly the Area Action Plan.These workshops will take place at:
Thorpe End Village Hall on Tuesday 27th October between 6.30 and 9pm
Sprowston Parish Council Offices, Recreation Ground Road NR7 8EW, Sprowston on 24th October between 6.30 and 9pm.
Rackheath Holy Trinity Church Hall on 13th October between 6.30 to 9pm
We will certainly be attending the exhibition and workshops and we would ask all local people and members of the Friends of Thorpe Woodlands to attend if they possibly can.
To book a place on one of the workshops call the council policy unit on 01603 430567 or email policy@broadland.gov.uk.
The campaign to save Thorpe Woods has had many successes, the Friends have several hundred members with new people still joining, our local councillors are supporting us and the press has provided us with a great deal of coverage.
Your support is essential and with it we can save Thorpe woods for future generations.
Photographs of Thorpe woodlands, their varied habitats, plantlife and wildlife all taken by friends and supporters. most taken between 2010 and 2013
Bravo! as they say here in france the chance to read your adventures came from knowing Jon Allaway who while passIng by our home here in the "Lot" (our department) saw that some rough handling of our Local stoney"causse"limestone ,sheep grazed,cuontryside,(by agricultural intervention) was evident he feared for loss o habitat,since, I've discovered the area surrounding us is not national parkland but does benifit from a cerain protection by an organisation called "nature 2000" this seems principly to protect against building but doesnt have much effect against farming techniques I fear . Is there an international organisation that could help valourise the orchid rich ,lichen and moss covered ,scrub oak , maple ,and Juniper wonderland?
ReplyDeleteI would just like to add that if the woods were norman a french word for moss is "Mousse" could this help validify the norman origins "moss hold" could be the meaning of mouse hold?
ReplyDeleteThanks for these comments Meg - I think they've ended up on this article instead of the Ancient Woods article somehow!
ReplyDeleteI think you have a very good point about the origin of the 'Mousehold' name. The 'hold' part derives from 'holt', meaning a wood. The 'Mouse' part clearly doesn't refer to mice, and your suggestion about moss could be spot on. Moss Wood makes perfect sense.
Good luck with your efforts to protect the beautiful causse habitat where you are. It was depressing to see such fantastic habitat being turned into arable fields.