Tag: Norfolk Wildlife Trust

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 11 January 2019.

None of the proposed routes for the NDR Western Link Road could be built without unacceptable damage to multiple important wildlife sites, warns Norfolk Wildlife Trust, unless there is a significant commitment to mitigation and compensatory habitats.

Four options were shortlisted by Norfolk County Council to link the end of the current Northern Distributor Road (NDR) now called Broadland Northway, on the A1067 with the A47 near to Easton.

The landscape between the A1067 and A47 is a network of habitats that are well-connected and therefore vital for wildlife, including ancient woodlands, grasslands and floodplains.

Whilst a key focus is rightfully to ensure there is no damage to the River Wensum – a site of international importance for wildlife – the landscape contains many significant other areas of importance for wildlife.

Several of these are designated as County Wildlife Sites (CWS), which are the best semi-natural habitats in Norfolk after nature reserves and SSSIs. Further areas locally are also in the process of being designated as CWS within the next few months. The connection between the habitats is of particular importance in this area, to enable wildlife to move through the landscape and not become isolated.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust has considered the four options in detail, looking at the direct impacts on the habitats, as well as indirect impacts such as pollution and habitat severance isolating and therefore undermining species ability to survive. All four options are currently unacceptable as they will cause significant damage to multiple CWS and ancient woodlands.

Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pamela Abbott said: “Without further evidence that the losses to important wildlife sites, degradation of nearby habitats and habitat separation across the landscape can be avoided or properly mitigated, we currently regard all of the options as unacceptable.

“The western link road will lead to direct loss of habitat, the separation of remaining habitats into smaller fragments and impacts on floodplain hydrology as well as increased light, noise, road run-off and air pollution over a considerable distance each side of the road. Severance of the landscape will result in reduced species mobility, whilst increased pollution will likely result in a reduction in habitat quality and species diversity. Both will reduce nearby sites’ and populations’ ability to cope with other environmental changes and increase the likelihood of localised extinctions.”

Without significant commitments to mitigation and compensatory habitat that robustly demonstrate that there would be a net gain for wildlife from the development, Norfolk Wildlife Trust would likely object to any of the shortlisted options if presented as a planning application.

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 16 July 2019.

On Monday 15 July 2019 Norfolk County Council approved option C as its preferred route for the NDR Western Link. The decision presupposes there is no realistic alternative to the road link, although we and others believe that case has yet to be fully made.

The core route of this road, even without considering all the additional infrastructure, would destroy parts of three County Wildlife Sites and permanently sever important connections between remnant parts of important habitats and populations of vulnerable species for nearly four miles.

Whilst we recognise and endorse the Council’s aspiration to deliver a net gain for wildlife alongside this scheme, we have grave concerns about how this will be met, and whether appropriate measures have been included in the budget. We will continue to campaign for the best interests of wildlife and biodiversity.

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 3 February 2020.

The inclusion of Defra’s targets for ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ in Norfolk County Council’s proposal for the Western Link road will not be enough to protect the area’s wildlife, with bats in particular becoming vulnerable to local extinction.

Biodiversity Net Gain is an approach which aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before, by ensuring that more habitat is created following development than is destroyed. But much of Norfolk’s wildlife depends on mature and established habitat, and will not be able to survive in areas of new habitat, even if the areas are larger.

Conservation Officer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Mike Jones said:
“We estimate that the western link road will include the permanent loss of between three and four hectares of woodland. The mature trees in this woodland provide features such as holes and bark gaps, which form a key roosting habitat for the local bat population. The rarity of the species present means that this woodland is likely to be of national importance.

“A new woodland planted to meet the net gain targets adopted would fail to provide replacement bat roost sites and therefore would not mitigate or compensate for the losses. This would be compounded by the disconnection of the remaining areas, leaving them more vulnerable to local extinction.”

This week Norfolk Wildlife Trust raised its concerns directly with the Council, asking them to consider the principle of creating a real net gain for all biodiversity and highlight the real threat to wildlife, which Defra’s targets will not solve.

Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pamela Abbott said:
“We appreciate the inclusion of a strategic objective to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain. However, there is a difference between delivering habitat targets and ensuring that all biodiversity impacts are mitigated effectively across the route. It is very likely that the newly created habitat will not support the wildlife displaced from the areas lost to the road. This is shown most starkly by the impact that the road will have on the bat colony.

“It is vital that all specific habitat requirements of all wildlife along the route are assessed, as well as meeting the Defra net gain habitat targets. In particular, the Council will need to examine in detail the habitat connectivity.”

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 18 May 2020.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust is dismayed to learn that central government support has been given to the Western Link road for the Northern Distributor Road (NDR).

The planned road will link the end of the current NDR on the A1067 with the A47 near to Easton. The landscape here is a well-connected network of habitats that are important for wildlife, including ancient woodlands, grasslands and floodplains. NWT is very concerned about the potential damage by the Western Link to these important habitats and their connectivity.

The Department for Transport (DfT) gave conditional support for Norfolk County Council’s plans for the 3.8-mile Norwich Western Link road on Friday 15 May 2020 as part of its Large Local Majors funding programme. Despite the backing, the road will still need to secure planning permission and no funding has been allocated for the project. But the support does gives the council the green light to proceed to the next stage of the process.

Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pamela Abbott said:

“This decision should not have been made before it can be shown that the likely significant biodiversity impacts will be addressed. We will be looking closely at the information from wildlife surveys that the council is gathering this spring, and will then write to the Department for Transport stressing that it is vital that specific habitat requirements of all wildlife along the route are assessed. We will also attend the future public inquiry to make the case for nature.”

Acting Head of People and Wildlife at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, John Hiskett said:

“We estimate that the western link road will include the permanent loss of between three and four hectares of woodland. The mature trees in this woodland provide features such as holes and bark gaps, which form a key roosting habitat for the local bat population. The rarity of the species present means that these areas of woodland, along with the whole complex of woodland habitats, in the vicinity of the proposed route are likely to be of national importance.

“It is very likely that the newly created habitat that is proposed in its place will not be of sufficient quantity or quality to support bats and other wildlife displaced from the areas lost to the road. This is exacerbated by the loss of habitat connectivity that will inevitably occur, particularly in the light of the growing evidence from other road schemes that alternatives such as bat bridges, as currently designed, are rarely effective.”

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 2 September 2020.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust will strongly object to any planning application for the Western Link and has written to the Department for Transport to raise its concerns over unacceptable wildlife impacts.

The proposed road will link the end of the Northern Distributor Road (NDR) on the A1067 with the A47 near to Easton. It would very likely result in the long-term complete loss of a Special Area of Conservation calibre breeding colony of barbastelle bats, listed as endangered on the IUCN and UK red lists. The bat roosts are protected by law from disturbance and destruction under the Wildlife & Countryside Act and the Habitats Regulations. Additional likely losses are areas of woodland expected to qualify as ancient woodland and permanent damage to two chalk rivers, a globally rare habitat of which the UK holds a significant proportion.

Conservation Officer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Mike Jones said:
“Based on the evidence available, we consider that the proposal would result in the loss of significant and irreplaceable ecological features of national importance for which mitigation and compensation are not feasible. We cannot envisage how it would be possible to proceed with the road and comply with wildlife laws and planning policies, nor provide a net gain for biodiversity as stated by Norfolk County Council. As a result, NWT intends to strongly object to the planning application.”

Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pamela Abbott said:
“We have written to the Department for Transport to urge the Western Link is removed from further consideration. Our recommendation is that the road proposal is stopped at this point. Alternative options for meeting future transport needs that do not contravene multiple wildlife laws must be examined further.”

NWT has also written to Norfolk County Council to share its concerns about the protected habitats and species. It highlighted that proposed new tree planting — regardless of scale — cannot replicate the mature woodland roosting habitats used by a significant colony of endangered bats on the route. NWT therefore strongly disagrees with the Council’s claim that a net gain for biodiversity can be delivered in this context.

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 1 December 2020.

If the Western Link for the NDR were to go ahead on its proposed route, it would drive through what is likely to be the largest known ‘super-colony’ of barbastelle bats in the UK, according to new independent surveys, risking its complete loss

Norfolk Wildlife Trust wrote to the Council in September expressing its concerns at the wildlife impacts of the Western Link proposal, and requesting that the Council revisits alternative options to meet local transport issues.

In October, a presentation was made at the East of England Bat Conference by independent bat experts, Wild Wings Ecology, presenting the results of their surveys on barbastelles and the Western Link route. The full results of the surveys are still being written up, but the findings clearly show that there are significantly greater numbers of barbastelle bats on the route and in surrounding woodlands than have been found by the Council’s own surveys.

The results have identified the presence of a breeding colony directly on the road route and that this is part of a wider ‘super-colony’ occupying surrounding woodlands in the local area. Indications are that the barbastelle population here is likely to be the largest in the UK, with surveys identifying at least 270 individuals.

Dr Charlotte Packman, the ecologist who identified the size and scale of the bat population said:
“Our research has led to the discovery of an extraordinary barbastelle ‘super-colony’, part of which would be directly cut through by the proposed Norwich Western Link and the remaining part substantially impacted by the road scheme. This is without doubt a nationally important area (and quite possibly the most important area) in the country for this very rare species. The destruction of barbastelle maternity colony woodlands is not permissible under wildlife laws and would be unprecedented. We believe that the predicted substantial and multifarious negative impacts of the proposed road on this protected species cannot be effectively mitigated or compensated for”.

Conservation Officer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Mike Jones said:
“It is clear these results indicate that the barbastelle population here is likely to be the largest known ‘super-colony’ in the UK. The road would drive through at least one colony woodland, effectively permanently destroying the colony there, and would seriously damage the ability of the remaining colonies in nearby woodlands to survive. Bats are long-lived species with low birth rates, and there is a very real risk that these losses to the proposed road would lead to the local extinction of this species in the long-term, with consequent impacts on the future of the species nationally. We do not believe it is possible to mitigate or compensate for impacts on this scale.”

Norfolk Wildlife Trust has written to the Council recently about these significant findings and has also written directly to Baroness Vere, the Minister for Transport to request that the Department for Transport defers from any further consideration of funding to Norfolk County Council (NCC) for the Norwich Western Link road proposal.

Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pamela Abbott said:
“We appreciate that this information about the importance of the area for barbastelle bats was not available to any interested parties earlier in the process when choices were made. However, given the significance of these new findings, we do not believe it is appropriate for work on this approach to be pursued further.

“We therefore urgently ask the Council to pause any further work on the road application whilst the importance of this new information is considered. We continue to request that the Council gives genuine consideration to alternative options.”

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 6 December 2021.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust is continuing to object to the proposed “Norwich Western Link” (NWL) and calls on more people to consider the coverage from BBC Countryfile (aired 5 December 2021).

NWT Chief Executive, Eliot Lyne, said: “We welcomed the BBC Countryfile reporting on the Norwich Northern Distributor Road Western Link on Sunday. The programme highlighted the unacceptable impacts of building a major road through a nationally important landscape – one that is a vital home to vulnerable wildlife including what is likely to be the UK’s largest known ‘super-colony’ of barbastelle bats.

“By showcasing the importance of the woodlands for threatened species found on the proposed route, the programme shone a light on some of the grave concerns that NWT have been raising with Norfolk County Council, Natural England and the Department for Transport throughout the design and planning of the proposed road. Evidence and testing were shown to be key to informing decisions on future development and mitigation. It is vital we listen to the science.

“Dr Packman’s independent scientific research, as seen on the programme, provides very strong evidence that this area is crucial for the long-term survival of barbastelle bats in the UK. As such we are calling on the Government’s Nature Conservation Advisors to urgently designate the area as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation. This will provide the resident bat colony vital protection from future developments such as the proposed road.

“We remain opposed to the new road development given its potential for a catastrophic impact on species. COP26 highlighted that we are facing both a climate crisis and a nature crisis, and that action is urgent on both. The outdated attitude that it is acceptable to destroy nature and compromise our climate in the pursuit of progress must be revolutionized. When nature thrives, so do we.”

“We are pleased to see national platforms such as BBC Countryfile raising awareness of important issues for our natural environment, as we continue our work to protect Norfolk’s wildlife.”

The press release issued by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 4 July 2022.

Following information published by Norfolk County Council ahead of today’s Cabinet meeting, a group of environmental organisations continue to raise grave concerns about the ecological impact of the proposed Norwich Western Link.

The Council has shared data from new ecological surveys on the location of bat roosts and feeding areas within an ancient woodland found on the proposed route, and published a new route map that they believe will avoid significant impacts to the bats.

Independent bat expert, Dr Charlotte Packman, has been carrying out in-depth research into the presence of barbastelle bats on the proposed route for the past four years.

Dr Charlotte Packman said: “Norfolk County Council’s reports only show a very limited snapshot of what is known about the nationally important barbastelle super-colony that is located here – with colony counts, home ranges, foraging areas and roosts substantially underrepresented in their reports.

“For example, at one colony the peak count recorded by the Council’s surveys is reported as 16 barbastelles, where we have recorded 105. Our data has been verified by UEA, making this currently the largest known barbastelle roost in the country.

“This is very concerning as the true scale and importance of the barbastelle super-colony has not been presented in the Council’s reports and therefore the proposed impact of the road on barbastelles will be significantly underestimated. This is an exceptional population of a very rare species that is considered to be something of a ‘Norfolk specialty’ – we have an important obligation to ensure that it is properly protected before it is too late.”

Mike Jones, NWT Conservation Officer, said: “Norfolk County Council’s proposed route amendment to avoid a handful of ancient and veteran trees does nothing to address the concerns for wildlife we have been raising for years. The bats need to feed and roost across areas of more than six kilometres, making a home in the flaking bark of trees found deep in the woodland and feeding from the far corners of this unique natural landscape.

“Barbastelle bats are in serious decline globally and here in Norfolk we are the guardians of one of Europe’s most significant maternity colonies. The survival of these bats relies on us considering the long-term impacts to the species on a landscape scale.

“As creatures of habit, imagine the shock they will experience when a 3–4-mile dual carriageway appears with no notice, running through the heart of their roosting and foraging grounds. One of the most devastating impacts will be separating the bats from the fields and marshes where they feed. The proposed road will inevitably result in the deaths of many bats and risks the local extinction of a globally threatened and, let’s not forget, legally protected species.

“In addition to other significant wildlife impacts, the growing knowledge of the bats’ existence on the route is a game-changer and, despite the resources already invested by Norfolk County Council in this plan, must put a stop to the Norwich Western Link.”

In spring 2021, Norfolk Wildlife Trust requested that Natural England consider the area of woodland, including ancient woodland, for designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in recognition of the importance of the area for wildlife.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust is part of a collective of environmental organisations including Stop the Wensum Link, CPRE, Friends of the Earth, the Woodland Trust, Norfolk Rivers Trust and Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society, all of whom oppose the development on the grounds of the unacceptable impact it will have on wildlife and the wider natural landscape.

The press release issued by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 17 August 2022.

Today, we sent an open letter to Councillor Andrew Proctor, in objection to the Norwich Western Link road (NWL). Read the full letter below. You can add your voice by sharing this letter, and signing the petition. The public consultation on the NWL is now open, and we will soon be advising on how best to respond.

Dear Councillor Proctor,

We write to express our grave concerns about the impact of the proposed Norwich Western Link Road on Norfolk’s wildlife and landscape. This week, Norfolk County Council has opened a public consultation on the road and we are writing to convey the strength of our objections to the plans.

For over two years, environmental organisations, including Norfolk Wildlife Trust, have been highlighting the unavoidable negative impact the road will have on a well-connected network of vital wildlife habitats and the species that call them home, many of which are protected by law.

The area is home to ancient woodlands, grasslands, chalk streams and floodplains and supports veteran trees and species including bats, badgers, farmland birds such as yellowhammer and linnet and a wide variety of invertebrates. The proposed development will fragment this wildlife-rich area, damage the River Wensum Site of Special of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and destroy parts of three County Wildlife Sites.

Of most concern is the evidence from a growing body of independent research, which presents incontrovertible evidence that the proposed Norwich Western Link route goes through the heart of the UK’s largest known barbastelle bat colony. Barbastelle bats are in serious decline globally and the proposed road will separate them from the fields and marshes where they feed and inevitably result in the deaths of many bats. This risks the local extinction of a globally threatened species.

We consider this to be totally unacceptable and reject any claims the Council makes that they can build the road and safeguard the bat population. Barbastelle bats have the highest level of legal protection, a colony of this size should be designated and protected from all forms of development.

For local government to prioritise this development and seek extensive funding from national government is directly at odds with commitments to address our biodiversity and climate crises. It also sets a dangerous precedent that will spell disaster for UK nature.

We, the undersigned robustly oppose the proposed road to protect wildlife in Norfolk, and across the UK. We will be responding in these terms to the consultation and urging others to do the same.

Signed by

Eliot Lyne, CEO, Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Alice Liddle, Chair of Trustees, Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Patrick Barkham, President, Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Chris Packham

Stephen Fry

George Monbiot, Writer and environmental activist

Dr Charlie Gardner, Patron of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)

Mark Cocker, Author and naturalist

Professor Tim O’Riordan, President, CPRE The Countryside Charity (Norfolk)

Chris Dady, Chairman, CPRE The Countryside Charity (Norfolk)

Crispin Truman OBE, Chief Executive, CPRE The Countryside Charity

Steve Rowland, RSPB Area Manager (Norfolk & Lincolnshire)

Toby Bancroft, Regional Director, The Woodland Trust (Central England)

Dr Jonah Tosney, Technical Director, Norfolk Rivers Trust

Dr A R Leech, Chair, Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society

Sarah Eglington, Group Coordinator, Norwich Friends of the Earth

Iain Robinson, Stop the Wensum Link

David Pett, Stop the Wensum Link

Craig Macadam, Conservation Director, Buglife

Sharon Hearle, Conservation Manager (Eastern Region), East of England Butterfly Conservation

Ash Murray, Chair, Norfolk Barbastelle Study Group

Will Fitch, Chair, Norfolk and Norwich Bat Group

Dr Carol Williams, Director of Conservation, Bat Conservation Trust

Chris Todd, Director, Transport Action Network

Dr Andrew Boswell, Independent Scientist and Consultant, Climate Emergency Planning and Policy

Rupert Read, Climate activist and Associate Professor, UEA

Hugh Warwick, Author, ecologist and Visiting Fellow at Oxford Brookes University

James Murray-White, Environmental film-maker

Amy Jane Beer, Biologist and writer

Nick Acheson, NWT Ambassador

D J Taylor, Norfolk-based Critic and Novelist

Rachel Hore, Norfolk-based Novelist

The press release issued by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust on 8 August 2022.

Very soon Norfolk County Council will be opening a public consultation on the Western Link of the Northern Distributor Road (NDR) around Norwich. The road will travel between Weston Longville and Ringland, joining the A47 near Horningham. The proposed road will also include a viaduct over the River Wensum. Norfolk Wildlife Trust is firmly against the construction of this road. NWT believes there is clear evidence that the road will result in unacceptable environmental damage, and not least, it fails to meet the country’s legal obligation to prevent habitat loss and climate change.

The landscape the road would cross is a well-connected network of vital wildlife habitats, including ancient woodlands, grassland, crystal clear chalk-streams and wetland floodplains. The area supports several species of bat, including the rare and protected barbastelle bat. It is a beautiful landscape supporting complex communities of plants and animals, including declining farmland birds such as yellowhammer and linnet.

The proposed road will fragment this wildlife-rich area, damage the River Wensum Site of Special Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and destroy parts of several County Wildlife Sites. The proposal will not only compromise irreplaceable ancient woodland, it also threatens the wildlife and landscape value of the River Wensum and Tud. Both are astonishingly rare chalk river habitats, and are full of aquatic plants, invertebrates and fish, such as brown trout. Chalk-stream rivers are undoubtable our most important and valuable habitat, with less than 200 found across the globe, Southern England holds 85% of these precious and vulnerable gems. Not only would a viaduct blot the landscape, its construction could threaten the river with pollution hazards, and the detrimental effect of long-term road surface run-off are still unknown.

The United Kingdom is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. The legally binding Environment Act commits the UK Government to work towards nature’s recovery. Overwhelmingly, people understand that when nature thrives, so do we. NWT believes that it is time for local and national authorities to place the protection of our natural environment at the forefront of all decision making.

One of the most concerning aspects of the proposed Norwich Western Link route is that it would run through the home of what is thought to be the UK’s largest barbastelle bat colony, a group of linked maternity woodland colonies described by local experts as a super-colony. The barbastelle bat is in serious decline globally, and barbastelle bats have the highest level of legal protection given to wildlife in the UK. These colonies are highly dependent on the surrounding rich tapestry of habitats, regularly travelling up to six kilometres to their feeding grounds, and the road would not only destroy roosts, but also isolate these colonies from each other and sever important corridors between the roosts and feeding sites. With the focus of the recent Environment Act rightly on nature’s recovery, this super-colony should be designated and protected from development, rather than left to suffer death by a thousand cuts.

Norfolk County Council have admitted that the area of impact will extend much further than the width of the carriageways. The land around the proposed road will become fragmented and degraded for wildlife through noise, lighting and pollution, with a worrying tally of road deaths to birds and bats being of particular concern.

Planners, of course, will attempt to mitigate for habitat loss, but fifty saplings are no replacement for a hundred-year-old oak with flaking bark and knot holes that these bats depend on. We are just beginning to understand the complexity of woodland soil, and the interconnectivity through the ‘wood wide web’ that is associated with ancient woodlands, for these eco-systems can take centuries to form. Wildlife underpasses, green bridges and bat gantries rarely work. The existing bat gantries on the NDR cost one million pounds each, these are designed to encourage bats to fly over the traffic, but evidence suggests they don’t work. Failed wildlife mitigation is no mitigation, and the term ‘green-washing’ has been coined to summarise the manner in which planners try and push through applications, often based on poor evidence of successful wildlife protection.

In 1926, when the then Norfolk Naturalist Trust took it upon themselves to purchase land on the North Norfolk coast at Cley, it was for no other reason than to protect wild birds. This was a new and revolutionary idea at the time. It’s sad to think that nearly one hundred years later, we are still having to fight against the destruction of Norfolk’s beautiful landscapes and wildlife, despite – apparently – being legally protected by law.

If you’d like to find out more about the Norwich Western Link and how you can take action to support wildlife from this development, please visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/ndr.