There are threats to up to 67,000 trees being replaced by 4,000 homes at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham, if the plans from Homes England and Defence Infrastructure Organisation go ahead.
The Princess Royal was among those planting trees in 2014 to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Homes England is leading on the development at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks and has launched a consultation on the proposals. Responses will be carefully considered.”
2,000 people so far have signed a petition to keep the trees alive, which was started by the Grantham-based Woodland Trust, who are heavily critical of the plans.
Oliver Newham, Grantham resident and spokesperson for the Woodland Trust, said: “The Woodland Trust accepts that a percentage of the young trees on-site may need to go in order to facilitate this development.
“But the plans, which propose up to 4,000 new houses, appear to have priorities alarmingly wrong. The Government declared a climate and environment emergency in 2019 and set a target to dramatically increase woodland cover to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Grantham has a site that is ahead of the game here, having the foresight in 2012 to plant trees vital in tackling climate change and to support our dwindling wildlife populations.
“The Trust wants to see a revised masterplan which places a much higher priority on retaining the trees on site, a commitment to ambitious tree canopy cover levels in any development on site and additional tree planting nearby to compensate for any trees lost.
“Areas of woodland on our urban fringes act as a green lung – improving air quality, trapping pollution and cooling temperatures.
“Indeed Public Health England, the Government’s own agency to improve public health and well being, cites these as some of the many reasons we must retain and increase green space, claiming that there is compelling evidence greenspaces really matter for our physical and mental health. Yet another reason to maintain this woodland space for future generations to use.
“It therefore is unfathomable Government agencies are designing a new development that would result in such significant loss of established woodland, whether old or new.”
To support the petition go to https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/grantham-barracks/
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