Works in Horse Close Wood

In a meeting with National Grid in early March this year it was agreed that the works area within the wood should have temporary fencing, which would serve to protect surrounding trees from damage.

At subsequent meeting in mid June it was again agreed that the fencing of the works area should be set sufficiently back from the edges of the Glade as to avoid inadvertent damage to the surrounding trees.

When I saw the preparation of the Glade for the works, I was happy that it had been cleared well, but didn't notice that the eastern edge of the glade was not fenced off. [I have edited my account here, as my recollection was that the eastern edge of the glade was fenced off. I was incorrect in that.] The sharp edge of the cleared area, nevertheless showed the edge of the woodland. On the 23rd July, However, work was in progress removing the underground cables at the Glade. I was disturbed to find that the huge amounts of excavated soil had been stockpiled within the part of the woodland behind two Small-leaved Lime trees at the woodland edge. This is entirely contrary to the agreeement reached in the meetings with National Grid and their contractors and cannot but cause harm to the wood.

The photographs below each show a Small-leaved Lime tree at the edge of the Glade which should have been protected by fencing. The high mound of soil is within the woodland behind the Limes.

View E to a Lime with a mound behind

View SE to two Limes and a mound behind

View NE to a Lime and a mound