Decision details

To plant trees on the sites specified below and grant new FBT agreements at the Holdings on the reduced acreages.

The decision to plant trees in Buckinghamshire is in line with national government policy to ensure that the county retains and improves local biodiversity and the natural environment by providing a secure habitat for flora and fauna. The tree planting program is also a step towards a greener future sequestering carbon to combat the effects of climate change.
The selected sites are well suited to the program as the planting is to be in areas which will not have a detrimental impact upon the scenery or character of the local area.
Land at Grange Farm: Located towards the north of High Wycombe and forming part of a larger Buckinghamshire Council holding with additional tenancies of varying nature. Grange Farm is bounded by residential properties to the North East and arable and pastureland to the West and South. The 18.38 acres of tree planting at Grange Farm will enhance the biodiversity of the local area.
Land at Bury Farm: The 17.62-acre area to be planted will amalgamate with mature woodland already existing on the site. The woodland planting area is also located on the less productive arable land toward to southern section of the parcel along the ridgeline. The expansion of the woodland will further enhance the biodiversity value at the site and increase carbon sequestration.

An alternative option would be to not plant trees at the sites and leave the areas within the current tenant’s occupation. This would not have a detrimental effect on the holdings; however, this would not fulfil the Councils’ tree planting program target and the Governments’ national ambition to increase the planting of trees across the UK.