Community council adds voice to campaign to save ‘ancient woods’

KINROSS: mature oak trees threatened by proposed housing development

Kinross Community Council has added its voice to a fight to save a group of mature trees under threat from a housing development on the outskirts of the town.

They are among a number of groups concerned by the impact of two applications for a total of 60 houses lodged by Springfield Properties on land northwest of Lathro Farm, Kinross.

“The community council objects strongly to the loss of any of these oak trees,” they say in a letter to the council.

“They make a strong visual contribution to the landscape and will be important for biodiversity.

“Birds observed in the area include tree sparrow, siskin, goldfinch, redpoll, linnet, yellowhammer, willow warbler, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, oystercatcher, lapwing and curlew.”

The cluster of trees should be retained according to Kinross-shire Civic Trust, which has written in support of the observations made by the community council.

“These objections cover the impact on the ecology of Loch Leven, a vital asset to Kinross-shire, the loss of important trees and their biodiversity and the negative impact on the local road network,” said a spokesperson.

Also adding their voice to the growing clamour is the Woodland Trust, which believes the trees may be ancient woodland.

“We have four main aims – no further loss of ancient woodland, restoring and improving woodland biodiversity, increasing new native woodland and increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland,” explained Jack Taylor of the charity, which has 500,000 members and supporters.

“The Woodland Trust is concerned about the impacts of the development on a small wooded area at Lathro Farm that could potentially be unmapped ancient woodland.

“We believe that this wooded area can be identified on first edition Ordnance Survey maps, meaning it can be dated as far back as the 1860s.

“As such the trust will maintain a holding objection to this development until further study has been conducted into the potential ancient status of this wooded area.”

Some objectors are calling for the trees to be made the subject of tree preservation orders, but if threatened with felling say a full bat roost and activity survey will be required.

We believe that this wooded area can be identified on first edition Ordnance Survey maps, meaning it can be dated as far back as the 1860s. JACK TAYLOR THE WOODLAND TRUST

Picture: Ken Whitcombe. The trees that may make way for two 60-home housing developments.