Thousands of trees spared from the chop in Formby and Ainsdale

TWO Hundred thousand trees that were in danger of being cut down in Formby and Ainsdale are to be spared the axe.

The Mersey Forest 20-year-report suggested that 200,000 trees across a swathe of nature reserve could be cut down in order to encourage certain types of wildlife to prosper.

The report said the trees could be detrimental to the sand dunes slacks producing enough healthy vegetation for wildlife like the natterjack toad.

The proposal included felling trees which grow within 100 meters of a slack for up to three miles, and according to Sefton Coastal Watch, it was estimated to be anything between 200,000 and 300,000 trees to get the chop.

Now Sefton Coast Watch Group say amicable talks between all parties has lead to the clause being removed from the plans, meaning that thousands of trees will not now be felled.

The news came following a meeting between Sefton Coast Watch and Formby Parish Council, who successfully worked with Natural England to remove the clause from the report by Mersey Forest.

Alan Holloway, Chair of Sefton Coast Watch said: “To date SCW have managed to stop Natural England felling a further 37 hectares of frontal woods.

“However Natural England imposed on Mersey Forest’s ‘20 Year Working Plan’, a 100m tree exclusion clause around all dune slacks on the Sefton Coast, even though Natural England have been unable to present any scientific evidence that the trees are detrimental to the dune slacks.

”Now however Sefton Coast Watch, with the help of Formby Parish Council, have persuaded Mersey Forest to forthwith delete their clause, which excluded all trees within 100m of a dune slack.

“Furthermore, Natural England has now confirmed that this 100m tree exclusion clause will be deleted from their ‘Position Statement’ dated from 2008, which applied to the whole Special Area of Conservation (SAC) on the Sefton Coast.

“This augers well for the future of the red squirrel refuge, which will remain at its present size.

“The public were up in arms at any threat to our isolated outpost of red squirrels. Visitors come to our coast from far and wide to see the red squirrels.

“Formby Parish Council met with Paul Nolan of Mersey Forest and demanded that this 100m tree exclusion clause be deleted.”

Natural England Area Manager, Mike Burke, said: “Natural England is committed to managing all the habitats at Formby and Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve for the benefit of wildlife and the local community.

”Natural England has no plans to fell woodland on the National Nature Reserve and is firmly committed to consulting with the public and local partners in developing its future plans.

“Natural England is committed to red squirrel conservation and has made a major contribution to this locally and will continue to do so.”

Story source: Ollie Cowan of Champion News