Say No To Greencroft Forest Calls for Mandatory Environmental Assessments
A County Durham-based group, Say No To Greencroft Forest, has launched a national campaign calling for changes to how large-scale commercial forestry projects are approved in the UK. The group is urging the UK Government to require Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all commercial forestry schemes over 5 hectares in size.
Large-Scale Forestry Scheme Raises Local Alarm
The campaign began in response to a proposal to establish Greencroft Forest Park – a 290-hectare commercial forestry development that would span countryside between Lanchester, Greencroft, Maiden Law and Iveston. The scheme is reported to be the largest continuous forest to be planted in England in four decades.
According to the group, the project includes the planting of over 120 football pitches’ worth of Sitka Spruce, a fast-growing non-native conifer. Local residents have expressed concerns about the potential impact on biodiversity, landscape, watercourses, and road safety. Several farmers are reported to have been removed from the land, and the scheme has approved thousands of timber truck movements via rural roads, including the A691 near St Bede’s School.
No Environmental Impact Assessment Required
The Forestry Commission has approved the project without requiring an EIA, despite formal objections from residents and businesses. Say No To Greencroft Forest believes this highlights a broader issue with current forestry regulations that allow large developments to proceed without formal environmental scrutiny.
“This isn’t just about Greencroft,” a spokesperson for the group said. “Similar projects are being fast-tracked across the UK, including in Scotland at Stobo Hope and Todrig, without proper environmental scrutiny. It’s a national issue, and it’s slipping through the cracks.”
Financial and Community Considerations
The project is backed by a Guernsey-based Asset Management Company through a Forestry Carbon Sequestration Fund. According to campaign materials, services and products are expected to be sourced from outside the County Durham area, with benefits including timber sales and carbon credits potentially leaving the local economy with little direct gain.
Campaigners are also raising awareness about the use of herbicides and the impact of heavy machinery traffic, citing publicly available Forestry Commission documentation and government sources. While the Forestry Commission has stated that visitor infrastructure such as walking paths may be developed in the future, it is currently not a confirmed part of the scheme.
Petition Calls for Change
The campaign’s petition calls on the UK Government to require the Forestry Commission and Forestry Scotland to carry out full EIAs on all commercial forestry projects over 5 hectares. The group’s concerns centre on ensuring that environmental, ecological and community factors are properly considered before approvals are granted.
A petition supporting this proposal is gaining national attention, reflecting a wider public interest in ensuring responsible forestry development practices.
Learn More or Take Action
To read more or sign the petition, visit:
🔗 https://www.change.org/p/require-eias-for-all-commercial-forestry-projects-over-5-hectares
More campaign information is available at: www.saynotogreencroftforest.co.uk
Disclaimer and Attribution
Provided by the Say No To Greencroft Forest campaign group. Consett Magazine is sharing this material as a platform for local community voices.
