Sacrificing ancient hedgerow for more housing
sir – In Hertfordshire we are facing the wanton destruction of nearly a mile of ancient hedgerow (“Hedgerows ‘must grow by 40pc’ to hit net zero targets”, report, September 6), including some huge oak trees, to make way for a building development, which is part of the council’s local plan and the Government’s drive to build 300,000 new homes.
An inspector found the site “not sound”, but the council is determined to push ahead anyway.
The Wildlife Trust has established that the hedgerow is over 300 years old. It forms a boundary around a meadow of ancient, unimproved grassland (the building site), all of which adds to the biodiversity of the area.
Part of the hedge borders what was a stretch of the old Great North Road from Potters Bar to Hatfield before what is now the A1000 was diverted in 1850, and as such is part of the area’s heritage. Not to mention the fact that it is in the green belt.
It seems that however “protected” or “important” hedgerows are in theory, if they stand in the way of a developer’s profits, or the local council’s targets, they are expendable. The Campaign to Protect Rural England is right to suggest that regulations to protect hedgerows should be strengthened, as surely it is best to protect the hedgerows we already have, along with their biodiversity and longestablished communities of small animals, birds, insects and other wildlife, as well as planting new ones.
The Government is happy to incentivise councils to build on green-belt land with the New Homes Bonus. It should also incentivise farmers and landowners to preserve hedges.
Trina Golland
Hatfield, Hertfordshire