Woodland urbanisation

The Gore Glen woodland project and others like it under the Forestry
Commission Scotland's Woods In and Around Towns initiative is
urbanising and undermining valuable havens for wildlife and in many
cases converting them into little more than dog lavatories and
anti-social behaviour venues.

Some time ago I spent a few hours at a Woodland Trust woodland, where
all visitors except for one arrived by car to "empty" their dogs - and
all running wild without leads.

This is not conservation of the natural environment; it is the
exploitation and destruction of what should be woodland sanctuaries
for wildlife and is no less part of expanding development than that of
the built-up environment.

Green it looks; grey it is!


Angus Macmillan
www.roots-of-blood.org.uk
www.killhunting.org
www.con-servation.org.uk

Angus wrote
Woodland urbanisation

The Gore Glen woodland project and others like it under the Forestry
Commission Scotland's Woods In and Around Towns initiative is
urbanising and undermining valuable havens for wildlife and in many
cases converting them into little more than dog lavatories and
anti-social behaviour venues.

Some time ago I spent a few hours at a Woodland Trust woodland, where
all visitors except for one arrived by car to "empty" their dogs - and
all running wild without leads.

This is not conservation of the natural environment; it is the
exploitation and destruction of what should be woodland sanctuaries
for wildlife and is no less part of expanding development than that of
the built-up environment.


I seem to remember a Lottery Grant available for wildlife areas that had to
have full public access, a contradiction in terms. Our "new" local Park was
designed by our Council with a wildlife area with nice paths through it
until I pointed out the error of their ways and now it's going to be within
the new allotment site stockade, fenced off from all. I must admit the
majority of people at the consultation meeting didn't understand my comments
at first.

It's only lack of understanding and ignorance Angus.

--
Regards
Bob H