See email trail below.
Daniel is right to emphasise what a disaster sale of Park Wood is. 162 acre Batts Wood in Wadhurst is also subject to statutory public access but is in private ownership. The last time I went there in 2011 the interpretation board was rotting and almost hidden by encroaching vegetation and the management was nowhere near the level public conservation organisations can reach. No-one would know it's open to the public. That is not to argue that Park Wood should be bought by the WT or SWT or any other public body. We need a solid public conservation sector boycott of all such privatisations to demonstrate public opposition and to avoid providing cover for these privatisations by cherry picking public property. No public conservation charity should be seen to be bailing out the Environment Agency or any other state department or agency. In 1980-82 the Crown Estate sold the 4000a Poynings Estate (which had never been sold since the Norman Conquest) including farms from Fulking to Poynings (around the Devils Dyke) and Pyecombe. This estate (with down pasture, ancient woodland and high quality chalk streams) could have become the centrepiece of the new National Park if conservationists had mounted a vigorous public campaign at the time... Whatever we may think of the UK military we would, I think, oppose the disposal of huge MOD lands such as Salisbury Plain and call for them to be managed by the state in the interests of nature conservation, sustainable food production, and public enjoyment. It would misdirect and empty the coffers of the voluntary sector to collude in such disposals. Their energies should go into opposing such antisocial politics, Dave Bangs ----Original message---- >From : dan...@crowboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk Date : 28/06/2017 - 11:25 (GMTST) To : iain.skin...@environment-agency.gov.uk, james.god...@environment-agency.gov.uk, damon.bl...@environment-agency.gov.uk, bangs...@btinternet.com Cc : ian.benn...@environment-agency.gov.uk, phillip.allis...@environment-agency.gov.uk, rhian...@samuelandson.co.uk, ba...@viper.demon.co.uk, k...@ecodolphin.co.uk, michaelblenc...@sussexwt.org.uk, claire.tes...@highweald.org Subject : RE: Park wood Crowborough Town Council enquiry HI Iain Thanks for your prompt response and helpful clarifications. I suppose that the reality is that financial pressures across government mean that no other department would have been in a position to take on the woodland now that it is sadly surplus to EA requirements. I also accept that the EA has a duty to ensure that market value is obtained. It is however possible to alert such organisations in advance to see if they are interested and able to prepare and submit a bid when it gets placed on the market. Otherwise a cash rich developer can purchase the wood very quickly and the charitable sector is left behind. Unless of course the sale is able to stipulate that bids from the charitable sector are preferred? Apologies, I am not aware of the rules in this regard and do not wish to waste your time. I agree that private ownership can be beneficial but it is a fact that developers are speculatively buying the vast majority of woodlands that are coming onto the market. The location of this woodland near Hailsham places the risk of this happening as very high. I realise however that this is not something that the EA are expected to take into consideration when disposing of assets. I am grateful for your time Iain. I know this woodland and can only hope that the charitable sector has sufficient resources. Best regards Daniel Daniel Colborne Ranger Crowborough Town Council -----Original Message----- From: Skinner, Iain P [mailto:iain.skin...@environment-agency.gov.uk] Sent: 28 June 2017 10:46 To: Daniel; Godber, James; Block, Damon; bangs...@btinternet.com Cc: Bennett, Ian; Alliston, Phillip; Rhiannon Rosser; Barry Kemp; Kate Ryland; Blencowe, Michael Subject: Park wood Crowborough Town Council enquiry Dear Daniel, We can assure you that the Woodland Trust & Sussex Wildlife Trust have been offered the opportunity to bid. We would like to make it clear that Park Wood, near Hellingly, is not part of the public forest estate and never has been. It was acquired for purely operational purposes. As part of the disposal process the woodland was initially offered to all government departments, including Forest Enterprise and no formal offers were made. As you rightly say, East Sussex County Council used to manage the public access issues in the woodland on behalf of the EA. However, that agreement ended in 2011. The EA is not structured to manage public access woodland. The organisation must ensure that its resources are targeted at its core business of managing waterways, flood prevention and protecting the wider environment. Equally, it is important when government assets become surplus they are sold at a market value. This ensures that the maximum income is derived, so that the money may be spent by the government on those issues prioritised for the country. The EA has created extensive areas of new wetland habitat in the past, much of which is in Sussex. It also works with Sussex Wildlife Trust and other partners to ensure that areas like Rye Harbour are managed well for wildlife and people, as well as fulfilling its flood defence role. You have expressed your fears of private ownership, but there are many excellent and committed, private woodland owners who actively manage their woods. They create good woodland habitat and put timber into the markets. As I have stated in the previous email, the statutory and voluntary designations that are placed upon this wood will guide any future owner in the direction of management and provide the relevant statutory bodies with the mechanisms to aid management if required. If the charitable sector believe that this woodland is important then they are welcome to fund raise and submit a bid. I trust I have now answered all of your queries. Yours sincerely Iain Iain Skinner BSc(Hons) MRICS Estates Surveyor Environment Agency | Guildbourne House, Chatsworth Road, WORTHING, BN11 1LD iain.skin...@environment-agency.gov.uk External: 0208 474 9564 | Mobile: 07500 760 927 I Internal: 49564 Working days: Monday to Wednesday National duty communications officer (24/7) | 0800 023 2522 National duty communications manager | 0800 028 2411 -----Original Message----- From: Daniel [mailto:dan...@crowboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk] Sent: 28 June 2017 10:21 To: Skinner, Iain P <iain.skin...@environment-agency.gov.uk>; Godber, James <james.god...@environment-agency.gov.uk>; Block, Damon <damon.bl...@environment-agency.gov.uk>; bangs...@btinternet.com Cc: Bennett, Ian <ian.benn...@environment-agency.gov.uk>; Alliston, Phillip <phillip.allis...@environment-agency.gov.uk>; Rhiannon Rosser <rhian...@samuelandson.co.uk>; Barry Kemp <ba...@viper.demon.co.uk>; Kate Ryland <k...@ecodolphin.co.uk>; Blencowe, Michael <michaelblenc...@sussexwt.org.uk> Subject: RE: Park wood. Hi Iain, Thanks for your email. Yes I saw that the public access is being protected as part of the sale. Of course the public access is not really the most important factor here. The loss of such an important site into private ownership is still potentially catastrophic from a wildlife biodiversity perspective. The site has been successfully and carefully managed by ESCC rangers (and I assume volunteers) in order to ensure that it provides maximum benefit for wildlife and people alike. As such it is a nature reserve in all but name and to lose it to a private owner is quite simply an ecological disaster. Many woodland are now falling into the hands of potential developers given that wildlife protective measures are likely to be weakened in this country going forwards. Even if it does not fall to a developer, very few private woodland owners are interested in maintaining or maximising wildlife value. I had thought that the government had rolled back on its controversial and unpopular plans to sell our publicly owned woodland. Can you tell me what has changed please? Also, given the sensitivity of this I wonder why the SWT and Woodland Trust were not approached before putting this asset on the open market? To not do so suggests that the EA are only interested in maximising profit. This is I am afraid a potential PR disaster for the EA and there will I am sure be significant public resistance going forward. Best regards Daniel Daniel Colborne Ranger Crowborough Town Council -----Original Message----- From: Skinner, Iain P [mailto:iain.skin...@environment-agency.gov.uk] Sent: 27 June 2017 16:16 To: Godber, James; Block, Damon; bangs...@btinternet.com; Daniel Cc: Bennett, Ian; Alliston, Phillip; Rhiannon Rosser Subject: RE: Park wood. Thank you Daniel. I can confirm that the woodland is for sale and that both SWT & WT have been informed directly. You will note that the EA is in the process of protecting the public access through using S16 of the CROW Act and that the woodland is designated SNCI and ASNW. I hope that this is helpful. Kind regards Iain Iain Skinner BSc(Hons) MRICS Estates Surveyor Environment Agency | Guildbourne House, Chatsworth Road, WORTHING, BN11 1LD iain.skin...@environment-agency.gov.uk External: 0208 474 9564 | Mobile: 07500 760 927 I Internal: 49564 Working days: Monday to Wednesday National duty communications officer (24/7) | 0800 023 2522 National duty communications manager | 0800 028 2411 -----Original Message----- From: Godber, James Sent: 27 June 2017 16:10 To: Block, Damon <damon.bl...@environment-agency.gov.uk> Cc: Bennett, Ian <ian.benn...@environment-agency.gov.uk>; Skinner, Iain P <iain.skin...@environment-agency.gov.uk> Subject: RE: Park wood. Sorry wrong Ian - Iain Skinner is the correct one -----Original Message----- From: Godber, James Sent: 27 June 2017 16:09 To: Block, Damon <damon.bl...@environment-agency.gov.uk> Cc: Bennett, Ian <ian.benn...@environment-agency.gov.uk> Subject: RE: Park wood. Thanks Damon for the heads up. Yes, the rumours are true. My colleague Ian (cc'd in) is dealing with the sale via our agents. -----Original Message----- From: Block, Damon Sent: 27 June 2017 15:48 To: Godber, James <james.god...@environment-agency.gov.uk> Subject: FW: Park wood. Hi James, Hope all is well and apologies for troubling you with this if not relevant. I heard a rumour that we were selling our site at Park Wood and wanted you to know that it has generated some interest in the Ecological fraternity (see below, message 2) Just wanted you to be aware. Regards Damon Damon Block Fisheries and Biodiversity, South Downs Solent And South Downs, Environment Agency South East Guildbourne House, Worthing 02030257057 (57057) Help stop the spread of invasive non-native species: Check-Clean-Dry and Be Plant Wise -----Original Message----- From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of adastra-requ...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk Sent: 27 June 2017 15:39 To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk Subject: Adastra Digest, Vol 130, Issue 7 Send Adastra mailing list submissions to adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.sxbrc.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/adastra_lists.sxbrc.org.uk or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to adastra-requ...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk You can reach the person managing the list at adastra-ow...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Adastra digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Save the date | Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar, Saturday 17 February 2018 (Blencowe, Clare) 2. Re: Park Wood Hellingly for sale! (Daniel) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 11:15:38 +0000 From: "Blencowe, Clare" <clareblenc...@sussexwt.org.uk> To: "adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk" <adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk> Subject: [Adastra] Save the date | Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar, Saturday 17 February 2018 Message-ID: <amxpr04mb10370305bfc87d5c3813eb5e4...@amxpr04mb103.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Dear Adastrans, The 29th Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar will be held on Saturday 17 February 2018. We have booked Oathall Community College again, just outside Haywards Heath. I promise we'll get a quicker system for the teas & coffees this time. We'll let you know when booking opens, in the Autumn. Best wishes, Clare Clare Blencowe BRC Manager Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre http://sxbrc.org.uk<http://sxbrc.org.uk/> | 01273 497521 ________________________________ Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.sxbrc.org.uk/pipermail/adastra_lists.sxbrc.org.uk/attachments/20170627/3b4cc636/attachment-0001.html> ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:37:33 +0000 From: Daniel <dan...@crowboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk> To: Adastra discussion group <adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk> Subject: Re: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale! Message-ID: <16D65044C7559E42AF42E42B9B0614EA9DE95A@CTC-SBS.Crowtc.local> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1255" Hi Do we know if SWT and or the Woodland Trust have been notified? It would be terrible to lose more woodland into unknown private ownership! Dan Ranger Crowborough Town Council From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of Jo Heading Sent: 25 June 2017 13:44 To: Adastra discussion group Subject: Re: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale! Hi Dave et al, Just to let you know that ESCC had management responsibility for Park Wood until 2011. In April 2011, the management was then handed back to its owners-the Environment Agency. Regards, Jo Heading Senior Ranger, ESCC ________________________________ From: D BANGS<mailto:bangs...@btinternet.com> Sent: ?23/?06/?2017 22:33 To: Adastra discussion group<mailto:adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk> Cc: conservation.n...@gmail.com<mailto:conservation.n...@gmail.com> Subject: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale! I've just been alerted to this proposed sale of Park Wood, Hellingly: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-48900174.html It is managed by East Sussex County Council, which will also be trying to shed its load of public high nature value land shortly too (see Cabinet agenda for 27th June), Dave Bangs This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy it to anyone else. E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this when replying. 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We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. To report this email as SPAM, please forward it to s...@forcepoint.com This message has been scanned and no issues were discovered. To report this email as SPAM, please forward it to s...@forcepoint.com Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. 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