On the substation site, and approach we calculate over 114 mature oaks will be lost, many veteran or close to veteran. Many are over 200 years old and can support 2300 species each. Mature oaks are ecosystems of ivy, insects, fungi, caterpillars, birdlife as well as being impressive carbon stores.  In addition 647m of ancient hedges will be removed.

Oak Trees

On the cable route, the boundary of Wilcox Farm and the Taintfield polo field is entirely made up of a double row of oak trees with an animal path between, coming from the nearby woods.  

This section is not marked as a 'trenchless' crossing on Rampion's maps. If these are not drilled underneath for cable laying they will be lost and cannot be replaced in our lifetime, even with the stated intentions of putting habitat back or better.

The construction vehicles have to get through and as Kings/Moatfield Lane is narrow and  unadopted it cannot take this commercial construction lorries so there seems to be no other way for them to get round.  

Wild Service Trees

These grow all around this the area including on Dragons Lane near Crateman’s farm and on the bridlepath that goes from Wilcox Farm which is on the planned cable route.  These trees are an indicator of ancient woodland and ancient hedgerow boundaries. Strips of woodland like these are all around this location. Digging for the cables would threaten the many established wildlife routes that the animals use to get between them. 

The ‘GREEN LANE’ 

Dating over 150 years with veteran oaks, field maples and hawthorn, this corridor would be cut through by cable construction. There are 22 trees in the cable construction crossing here as marked in the DCO order limits, at least 11 of which are marked to be removed in the centre.  5 are significant oak trees of over 2.5M girth, but the greatest significance is the continuity of this wildlife corridor that comes directly from Buckhatch Lane which can be dated to before 1649. 

For significantly more detail including maps, Rampion's assessment and responses to requests for further consideration can be found in the document linked here.