Help save Loxley & Wadsley Common

[Greybeard]

is it just these two commons that are having trees chopped down? ive been in beeley woods today and there are several felling notices regarding cutting down of trees in the wood and up by deepcar

 

This may be something to do with flood pevention. Trees falling into the river caused a lot of problems last June.

[ducatiboy]

Ive come across and interesting leaflet I thought others may be interested in aswell.

 

Save your Commons

 

Sheffield City Council have been granted a Forestry Commission licence to fell a total of 2800 trees on Wadsley and Loxley Commons by 2112, all to fuel Council heating systems.

 

just for information it is now feb 2008 the year above is 2112 that is 104 years from now or less than 28 trees per year. correct me if im wrong of course. just a thought

[The Chavs]

just for information it is now feb 2008 the year above is 2112 that is 104 years from now or less than 28 trees per year. correct me if im wrong of course. just a thought

 

Good spot Ducati.....Beckelina beat you to it though :hihi:

 

Im hoping to get some more info on the application from the person who dealt with it. I suspect that the leaflet misquotes 2112, I cant believe anyone would be bothered that far in front !!!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckelina

If the licence details are correct in the OP then the Council are asking for permission to fell 2800 trees over the next 104 years, which is on average about 27 trees a year.

 

LOL. Good spot beck!!!! Is this a misprint on the leaflet (definately says 2112), perhaps it should be 2012. Ive asked the person who dealt with the application for more info.

[ducatiboy]

Good spot Ducati.....Beckelina beat you to it though :hihi:

 

Im hoping to get some more info on the application from the person who dealt with it. I suspect that the leaflet misquotes 2112, I cant believe anyone would be bothered that far in front !!!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckelina

If the licence details are correct in the OP then the Council are asking for permission to fell 2800 trees over the next 104 years, which is on average about 27 trees a year.

 

soz had a qyuick flick thro thats allit does hwever show that the common will be there fotat least another hundred years......i suppose:D

[cosywolf]

This area is covered by Sheffield's Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Here is an excerpt:

 

Site safeguarding and management

Ensure that suitable management, aiming to re-create and maintain a

diverse range of dwarf-shrub height and structure, within a mosaic of

scattered trees, scrub, bare ground, gorse, and wet areas, has been initiated

at all sites where ownership or management agreements make this

possible.

Continue management at sites where it has already begun (e.g. Wharncliffe

Heath, Fox Hagg, Loxley Common, Birley Edge, Wickfield).

 

Here is a link to Sheffield's Biodiversity Action Plans: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/parks-woodlands--countryside/ecology-service/biodiversity-action-plans/other-habitats

 

This area is designated as an Area of Natural History Interest by the Council, and is also classed as a Local Nature Reserve. Chances are they are following a management plan to preserve the site's rare habitat and species.

 

I would very much suggest the OP find out more before going ahead with their petition, though I would always encourage people to ask questions and find out more about what is going on around them. If this has worried a lot of people, then communication has broken down somewhere, and it doesn't hurt to remind SCC and others that they need to let people know what is going on - because people do actually care (which is fantastic).

[hillsbro]

Personally, I am always a little suspicious of "management". But originally, of course, the common didn't have to be managed - people grazed their animals on the land, and this kept down tree growth and encouraged the developement of "lowland heath" with all its flora and fauna. I suppose that if the common had been left to its own devices, then without grazing animals it would have reverted to forest like any other piece of land in the area. If we value lowland heath (and apparently it is quite unusual) then I suppose that tree growth has to be kept down, so that the heather, bilberry etc. can flourish, and so the remaining trees can have some breathing space. When I go for a walk on the common I enjoy strolling through the wood, looking at the birds and noting/photographing the many types of fungi that flourish there (Amanita muscaria or "Fly agaric" - red with white spots - is quite common, for example). But I suppose that even after tree-felling, the wood will still be there.

 

In any event, I hope that nobody chops down the four hazel trees that I surreptitiously planted among the birch and oak, three years ago. Fortunately they are still quite small, and cunningly hidden....

[beckelina]

Personally, I am always a little suspicious of "management". But originally, of course, the common didn't have to be managed - people grazed their animals on the land, and this kept down tree growth and encouraged the developement of "lowland heath" with all its flora and fauna. I suppose that if the common had been left to its own devices, then without grazing animals it would have reverted to forest like any other piece of land in the area. .

 

(my bold)

But the grazing was just another form of 'management' - it might be a conservation 'buzzword' but habitat management is really any means of suppressing natural habitat progression in order to maintain a valuable, rare or threatened habitat.

Grazing is one of the means used in modern conservation, but for a lot of sites it is impractical and unpopular with users.

Felling and mowing are other methods, as are spraying, planting and so on.

Pretty much all the landscape of England has been 'managed' in some form or other for hundreds of years, since man grazed animals and used timber anyway - all we are doing in modern times is substituting different methods.

[The Chavs]

I would very much suggest the OP find out more before going ahead with their petition, though I would always encourage people to ask questions and find out more about what is going on around them. If this has worried a lot of people, then communication has broken down somewhere, and it doesn't hurt to remind SCC and others that they need to let people know what is going on - because people do actually care (which is fantastic).

 

Thanks for this Cozy, I agree with you totally.

 

I am the OP and I havent started a petition (not planning to either). I came across a leaflet which the post confirmed so I thought I would bring it onto the forum for two reasons: see what others thought and see if I could find anything else out (I couldnt find anything on the council or forestry websites).

 

I put a poll on the thread but just for interest value. I think this shows that the majority of people are protective of their surroundings. 80% dont agree with felling trees on the common. However, posts since show that perhaps there may be very good reasons for this.

 

This to me, highlights exactly what you have said. The council will be seen to do something, the majority will disagree with what they are doing. Quite a few will probably just carry on and either not vote in the next election or vote for an alternative party (purely because of one issue they disagreed with but never asked or found out more info on). A lesson for all concerned would be :

 

1. The council should respect the public more and keep them up to date with WHAT and WHY they are doing things.

 

2. The council should understand that people are more willing to ask question and be involved than ever before.

 

3. The public should be more aware of whats happening in their area. If they dont like what they see, they should ask questions.

 

4. Not everyone has the time or inclination to ask questions or be involved. However, thats where the power of forums is. If you find something out which needs a wider audience then post about it. Im sure many people graze on the forums and its probably a lot more informative than "The Star".

[hillsbro]

But the grazing was just another form of 'management' - it might be a conservation 'buzzword' but habitat management is really any means of suppressing natural habitat progression in order to maintain a valuable, rare or threatened habitat

 

Of course, grazing is a form of management, but as I wrote, the common didn’t have to be managed. The common was itself the result of a traditional form of management – grazing. Now, with the common as an example of lowland heath being threatened, the intention is to manage it by introducing a different form of management – tree felling. But both systems of management have a similar result. As I wrote, the common would, if left to its own devices, revert to forest. Any form of management will cater for the needs of a specific group of people. A purist might say that the land should be allowed to revert to forest - but this would upset people whose dogs enjoy running around on the open land. But then, surveys have shown that the vast majority of people who use the common are dog-walkers, and people tend not to keep sheep and goats nowadays... So a "democratic" view might be that the common should meet the needs of the majority of people who use it, and if this preserves an area of fast-receding lowland heath, so much the better. I for one would be sorry to see all the trees go but this, presumably, is not intended.

[Greybeard]

So a "democratic" view might be that the common should meet the needs of the majority of people who use it, and if this preserves an area of fast-receding lowland heath, so much the better. I for one would be sorry to see all the trees go but this, presumably, is not intended.

 

Can only agree with that. It's to be hoped that canopy trees such as Oak, Beech, Chestnut and even a few Sycamore are to be preserved. If they want the heathland back the council will need to make a serious effort to combat the bracken which will quickly take over without the competion of a vigorous underwood. This has already happened in parts of Rivelin Valley.

 

I can't see much of the wildlife returning with dogs running around, especially ground nesting birds, but snakes and lizards should find a niche.