1,000 signatures reached
To: Wiltshire Council, Mildenhall Parish Council, Marlborough Town Council
Save Grove Farm Community Woodland Forest School
Save Grove Farm Forest School in Marlborough.
- Give the landowner and centre volunteers the opportunity to revise the planning application to introduce measures to mitigate against traffic management concerns, such as for example set opening days and times throughout the seasons.
- Work with the landowner in regards to for example, site access and diversionary routes to and from the centre.
- Work in consultation with the landowner and volunteers rather than against them. Reconsider and approve planning permission.
- Support an innovative project that serves the local community in and around Marlborough in addition to communities of interest who use the woods for recreation and education.
- Give the landowner and centre volunteers the opportunity to revise the planning application to introduce measures to mitigate against traffic management concerns, such as for example set opening days and times throughout the seasons.
- Work with the landowner in regards to for example, site access and diversionary routes to and from the centre.
- Work in consultation with the landowner and volunteers rather than against them. Reconsider and approve planning permission.
- Support an innovative project that serves the local community in and around Marlborough in addition to communities of interest who use the woods for recreation and education.
Why is this important?
OWNERS of a woodland education centre near Marlborough are being forced to demolish it this week after Wiltshire Council refused to give it planning permission for change of use.
Martin Gibson, who owns The Grove Woodland Centre, and team member Mark Norcliffe are heartbroken that the centre which helps youngsters learn through play has had to close after parish council objections about traffic using the narrow country lanes. The parish council objected to the plans without consulting with the wider communtiy.
Mr Norcliffe, 43, a volunteer helped build the centre. He said: "I have been told the school must be shut down, taken apart and fully dismantled. I am going to be taking down some of it but it is truly heart-breaking.”
We used to have a lot of children who came here from the surrounding area. They were absolutely wonderful, they really enjoyed it here. We had large groups of children come weekly to take part in a range of different activities. We had tree houses, assault courses, play areas and a stage and even birds."
The centre, at Thicketts Road, Mildenhall, ran courses offering children and adults the chance to experience forest living, including learning how to make fires using bow drills, build shelters and sleep out under the stars.
Up to 70 youngsters a week were enjoying the courses, and a Friday-night adults session was popular with local people.
But the centre has had to close after Wiltshire Council ruled the amount of traffic it was causing was a danger to other road users.
Mr Gibson said he hoped to re-open the centre in the future if he can resolve the traffic issues with the council.
“I have a farm and it has some lovely woodlands in it and I have always wanted to find a way of getting kids to play in the woods.
“We came up with an idea of hosting birthday parties and school trips and and it was working out really well. We then applied for planning permission and we got turned down because the traffic impact was severe.
All my neighbours objected because they thought there would be too much traffic but if the road is unsuitable then surely something needs to be done?
A spokesman for Mildenhall Parish Council said this week: "The Parish Council will be pleased to hear the Woodland Centre will close because the site is unsuitable on account of serious access difficulties."
When the application was considered by councillors, the parish council said it supported the principle and aims of the centre but were: "Unanimously opposed to any additional vehicular traffic on the access roads from Mildenhall and Stitchcombe, which are already causing anxiety to local residents and users of the newly-refurbished playpark. Their experience has convinced them that additional traffic on these lanes is dangerous and against the spirit of the woodland adventure."
This is such sad and devastating news for the community of Marlborough, surrounding areas and the staff who've worked with so so hard with bare hands and very little resources to develop this fantastic forest school and community woodland at Grove Farm.
On taking a gentle amble through the beautiful copse, listening to the birds, spotting the occasional, nuthatch, deer and muntjac, the level of passion, commitment and dedication that's been invested in developing such a striking and well needed facility is evident to see. In recent years this centre has grown with the natural surroundings, evolve and flourish in synergy with nature and complimenting the beautiful landscape at Grove Farm. The facility has attracted local visitors of all ages together with people from further afield, all of whom are astounded at it's beauty and amazed at the low impact structures that have been built sympathetically in partnership with nature.
The woodland copse at Grove Farm is regarded as a fine example and beacon of good practice of what can be achieved with very little but the resources and building materials provided by nature on the site on which it stands. Mark Norcliffe has designed and built all the structures by his own hand, without the use of mains electricity or power tools, with very little in terms of finances and using only materials kindly provided by nature. The magnificence of not only the structures, but paths and walkways developed at Grove Farm are testament to his passion and commitment to work sensitively with nature and provide a facility where people of all ages and backgrounds can play, learn about nature and share skills from one another in a beautiful safe environment. The 3 core staff of Builder, Falconer and Forest School Instructor have worked with dedication, blood sweat and tears to develop this fantastic sanctuary that is a centre for learning and play for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. It is deplorable that non sensical NIMBYism prevails when such community facilities are so desperately needed for children and adults alike. It's true what they say "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone". SAVE GROVE FARM COMMUNITY WOODLAND
Martin Gibson, who owns The Grove Woodland Centre, and team member Mark Norcliffe are heartbroken that the centre which helps youngsters learn through play has had to close after parish council objections about traffic using the narrow country lanes. The parish council objected to the plans without consulting with the wider communtiy.
Mr Norcliffe, 43, a volunteer helped build the centre. He said: "I have been told the school must be shut down, taken apart and fully dismantled. I am going to be taking down some of it but it is truly heart-breaking.”
We used to have a lot of children who came here from the surrounding area. They were absolutely wonderful, they really enjoyed it here. We had large groups of children come weekly to take part in a range of different activities. We had tree houses, assault courses, play areas and a stage and even birds."
The centre, at Thicketts Road, Mildenhall, ran courses offering children and adults the chance to experience forest living, including learning how to make fires using bow drills, build shelters and sleep out under the stars.
Up to 70 youngsters a week were enjoying the courses, and a Friday-night adults session was popular with local people.
But the centre has had to close after Wiltshire Council ruled the amount of traffic it was causing was a danger to other road users.
Mr Gibson said he hoped to re-open the centre in the future if he can resolve the traffic issues with the council.
“I have a farm and it has some lovely woodlands in it and I have always wanted to find a way of getting kids to play in the woods.
“We came up with an idea of hosting birthday parties and school trips and and it was working out really well. We then applied for planning permission and we got turned down because the traffic impact was severe.
All my neighbours objected because they thought there would be too much traffic but if the road is unsuitable then surely something needs to be done?
A spokesman for Mildenhall Parish Council said this week: "The Parish Council will be pleased to hear the Woodland Centre will close because the site is unsuitable on account of serious access difficulties."
When the application was considered by councillors, the parish council said it supported the principle and aims of the centre but were: "Unanimously opposed to any additional vehicular traffic on the access roads from Mildenhall and Stitchcombe, which are already causing anxiety to local residents and users of the newly-refurbished playpark. Their experience has convinced them that additional traffic on these lanes is dangerous and against the spirit of the woodland adventure."
This is such sad and devastating news for the community of Marlborough, surrounding areas and the staff who've worked with so so hard with bare hands and very little resources to develop this fantastic forest school and community woodland at Grove Farm.
On taking a gentle amble through the beautiful copse, listening to the birds, spotting the occasional, nuthatch, deer and muntjac, the level of passion, commitment and dedication that's been invested in developing such a striking and well needed facility is evident to see. In recent years this centre has grown with the natural surroundings, evolve and flourish in synergy with nature and complimenting the beautiful landscape at Grove Farm. The facility has attracted local visitors of all ages together with people from further afield, all of whom are astounded at it's beauty and amazed at the low impact structures that have been built sympathetically in partnership with nature.
The woodland copse at Grove Farm is regarded as a fine example and beacon of good practice of what can be achieved with very little but the resources and building materials provided by nature on the site on which it stands. Mark Norcliffe has designed and built all the structures by his own hand, without the use of mains electricity or power tools, with very little in terms of finances and using only materials kindly provided by nature. The magnificence of not only the structures, but paths and walkways developed at Grove Farm are testament to his passion and commitment to work sensitively with nature and provide a facility where people of all ages and backgrounds can play, learn about nature and share skills from one another in a beautiful safe environment. The 3 core staff of Builder, Falconer and Forest School Instructor have worked with dedication, blood sweat and tears to develop this fantastic sanctuary that is a centre for learning and play for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. It is deplorable that non sensical NIMBYism prevails when such community facilities are so desperately needed for children and adults alike. It's true what they say "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone". SAVE GROVE FARM COMMUNITY WOODLAND
