Farming & Environment

32 New Stour & Avon, December 3, 2021 Farming & Environment CPRE claims green fields are under threat

Have your say on Nature Recovery Plan

by Faith Eckersall

newsdesk@stourandavon.net Countryside campaigners from Dorset CPRE have warned that the county’s green fields are at threat from developers because, they claim, it’s one of the main local authorities that regularly put up green fields for development, as opposed to brownfield sites. According to Dorset CPRE around 56 per cent of the county is designated as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty –more than any other county in England. However, it warns that much of the housing proposed in the draft Dorset Local Plan will be built either in or very close to AONB land, changing forever the county’s unique landscape and rich biodiversity. Research carried out by CPRE reveals that housing that has been approved in AONBs nationally, since 2017/18, is overwhelmingly large executive homes, with only 16 per cent described as affordable housing. “Natural England and a number of neighbouring authorities are critical of the Plan,” said Dorset CPRE. “For example, Natural England considers there is limited scope for major new development within the Dorset AONB above that already allocated’. With reference to development at Blandford Forum, they state that ‘The scale and location of the development will inevitably result in residual adverse impacts on the Cranborne Chase AONB.’ It also claims that in Dorset, ‘numerous developers’ submissions’ propose reducing the current protection of AONBs. Chairman of North Dorset CPRE, Rupert Hardy, said: “Dorset Council admits that the public interest test used to justify the release of AONB for major development is necessary to meet its excess housing target and Cllr David Walsh concedes it is ‘likely’ that protected areas will be affected by development. “This means that town and parish councils who believe themselves protected from development are enjoying a false sense of security.” Dorset CPRE claims town and parish councils who responded to the draft Dorset Local Plan, represent 287,000 voters. Of these, 88 per cent do not agree with the plan, which proposes 4,500 homes in or within 250m of an AONB. The group is now calling for Dorset Council to acknowledge the ‘overwhelming public opposition to the Local Plan’ and to accept that its findings ‘put at risk the special areas of Dorset’s countryside’. Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Planning said: “The draft Dorset Council Local Plan has been developed to balance the needs of current and future Dorset residents with the preservation of our beautiful and unique landscapes. “The plan is not just about housing, it is about creating communities for people to live, work and enjoy. There will be mixed types of housing to produce homes for a wide variety of households who will use the newly created local facilities, generating economic growth and prosperity. “The analysis we undertake on consultation responses is focused on the specific planning issues raised rather than a quantitative analysis based on the number of responses. Many responses did not indicate whether they supported or objected to policies and therefore attempting to draw statistical conclusions on the level of support for a particular policy would be misleading and involve an interpretation of the sentiment of the comment. “A Local Plan, formed using residents’ views, makes sure that developments are built within the constraints of the area. That is why it is important to continue with the process of developing this plan that will be adopted late in 2023. Without the protection of a Local Plan, developers are more likely to successfully appeal rejected applications.”

THREAT: 56% of Dorset is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Picture: STEVE BELASCO

Should Ringwood have a Nature Recovery Plan? That’s the question posed by the town’s Neighbourhood Plan team which wants to hear local views about starting a Nature Recovery Plan for the town and its surrounding area. “Globally, our natural world is facing serious threats,” said the team. “At a local level, the natural environment around Ringwood has not always prominently in the Plan, which is currently being prepared and which should inform future development in the area for many years to come. “Key to the preparation of the plan are the views of local people, so we are publishing a survey which we hope will achieve a high degree of public interest and response.” Complete the survey online: ringwoodnp.org.uk/nature.

A Day at the Farm...

with Tiffany Fleming

Tiffany Fleming is a volunteer at High Mead

Farm in Longham, Ferndown

High Mead Farm is a working farm run to promote the benefits of engaging with animals, soil, and nature. They ‘create purposeful roles for our co-farmers, young people and adults alike, to help bring about a sense of well-being and self-worth that many have never experienced before’. November has been a surprisingly busy month at the farm. The team has been prepping industriously for our off-site Christmas events, one of which included an opportunity to meet some of our small animals. Sharon, our amazing office administrator, must have read my mind when she asked me, with a theatrical shrug: “What could possibly go wrong?!”. n The first of our, brand new, craft-room volunteers joined us mid-month, offering a much-needed break to the horticultural team, who have been hard at it harvesting the winter veg. Roger and his woodworking team continued to craft their wonderfully rustic Christmas decs, and our newly-created fundraising team secured support for our next big project – completion of a three-station, commercially appointed kitchen, to help us to teach our Co-Farmers basic culinary skills and home cooking from scratch. (Select Interiors Limited, stand up and take a bow, you cannot possibly imagine how incredibly happy you have made us.) We are beyond excited that our last three projects have come together so quickly and have been so extraordinarily well supported. n It is just over seven months since I first volunteered at the farm, and I have seen much change in that time; the launch of our fabulous Farm Shop (the realisation of a project eight years in the planning), the creation of the new craft

facility, and the rapid growth of our Co-Farming team being matched in numbers by a bourgeoning squad of volunteers. Since becoming part of the team, I have witnessed the slow re-awakening of High Mead, returning to its prepandemic pandemonium. The inevitable chaos, when the farm is busy, is a great comfort, because that is what makes it the special place it is. I have changed too. Much like our produce, I’ve adjusted to the seasons. It is surprising how quickly you can become accustomed to a new environment, however unconventional. Nowadays, chatting away with our Co-Farmers who, invariably, have a chicken tucked under an arm, or an alpaca in tow, is the new normal for me. Watching the loading of farm animals into the trailer, off for a therapy visit to one of our neighbouring care homes, is no longer a thing of fascination for me – and, more surprisingly, I no longer worry about all the likely outcomes, as the trips are always an overwhelming success. I don’t fret now about the fact that the farm gloves aren’t in matching pairs, or that the seeds are not always sown in a straight line. It has finally dawned on me that nothing at the farm is quite perfect and I have grown to value the absolute beauty in that fact.

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