Last month Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss MP confirmed the unpopular £60bn project will be part of a Government spending review due to report in November. Notices to proceed have already been delayed from June to December.
So far, site clearance has been undertaken in a number of areas including Ruislip, the Colne Valley and parts of Buckinghamshire with work earmarked for Warwickshire and Birmingham in the coming months.
Ancient woodland, which is earmarked for destruction in October, is our rarest habitat accounting for just two per cent of woodland cover in the UK. It has lay undisturbed for centuries, an eco-system in its own right. That makes it irreplaceable and no amount of new planting can make up for that loss.
The 149-mile route from London to Birmingham will cause loss or damage to a total of 61 ancient woods. Of those 32 will suffer direct loss totalling 31.09ha. The other 29 will suffer damage due to noise, vibration, changes to lighting and dust.
Mrs Ryan added:
“The loss of these centuries-old sites will be catastrophic for the environment. Not only will we lose the woods but the many species of flora and fauna which rely on it for survival are at risk too. Rare birds such as the lesser spotted woodpecker, the willow tit and the wood warbler, bats, butterflies, dormice, badgers and hedgehogs are all threatened.
“The government needs to ask itself if it is prepared to allow such significant environmental destruction before the outcome of the review is known.”