Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has written to both the Natural Resources Minister for Wales and Flintshire County Council calling for a “hidden gem” woodland in Holywell to be protected.
The woodland, situated behind Ysgol Babanod Perth y Terfyn, is a typical ‘woodland garden’, estimated to have been planted in the 19th century, with a lot of yew and some magnificent holme oak and copper beech.
Work was recently carried out at the site by Bodfari Environmental who have expressed their concern about the future of the woodland when the two schools on the site are relocated.
Their report which has been sent to Mr Isherwood states: “We did not know that the woodland existed before our visit and were amazed by what we saw.”
With local planning authorities having specific powers to protect trees by making tree preservation orders (TPOs) and Natural Resources Wales responsible for the control of felling of woodland trees, Mr Isherwood has therefore written to both Flintshire County Council and John Griffiths AM, Minister for Natural Resources, Culture and Sport, whose responsibilities include all activities of Natural Resources Wales, conserving and protecting the historic environment of Wales and promotion of heritage-led regeneration, urging them to give the matter their attention and to confirm their intended course of action.
Mr Isherwood said:
“I am very thankful to Bodfari Environmental for alerting me to this potential threat to the woodland. As they say ‘it would be a great loss if the woodland were felled. It is a wild-life haven as well as an important link to Holywell’s history. It would make a wonderful community asset, either as a shared space for any new housing or as a separate public access area.’
“Like them I hope that the woodland has some protected status, either through TPOs or listing by the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, CADW. It is crucial that we ensure it gains protection as a public amenity before it is too late.”
