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My name is Dan Mills
of Steward Community Woodland, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Devon
TQ13 8SD.
I am writing this
statement and giving evidence on behalf of myself and the other seven
woodland dwellers at Steward Community Woodland. I am the Secretary
of Affinity Woodland Workers Co-operative Limited (Company Registration
No. 3910698) and am giving evidence on behalf of the company where appropriate.
The planning application,
now the subject of this Appeal, requests permission for "Low
impact, sustainable development associated with agricultural/forestry
enterprise incorporating educational and residential elements".
This would allow a low impact settlement consisting solely of structures
not constituting operational development.
Our Vision
We are a community of people (currently 8 adults) who wish to live sustainably
with our natural surroundings. We would rather live in low impact, affordable
accommodation than increase the demand for high impact housing in the
area. The major purpose of the Steward Community Woodland project is
to demonstrate how small, dedicated, ecologically minded communities
can deeply enrich the social and natural environment of an area, and
be financially viable. Our vision is to combine conservation woodland
management techniques (such as coppicing and natural regeneration) with
organic growing, traditional skills and crafts (green woodworking, charcoal
production, etc), and low impact sustainable living. Our aim is to create
a sustainable working woodland and conservation project which is fully
integrated into, and is an asset to the local economy and community.
We are utilising permaculture design principles and renewable energy
(such as solar, cycle and water power). We are keen to encourage local
involvement and input. We wish the woodland to be a place where school
children and other members of the public can visit, experience the flora
and fauna, and take part in activities and learn skills (from composting
to green woodworking to organic growing). Thus, the project will benefit
the environment while also providing an educational resource, local
jobs, sustainable products and a place for quiet enjoyment and recreation.
The Steward Community
Woodland project not only demonstrates the current state of low impact
living and technology, but also is an experiment to research into new
and better ways to live in harmony with our natural surroundings. We
do not expect people to take to the woods and live as we do, but we
hope to enable and empower visitors (and those who come to hear of the
project) to take up whatever sustainable practices they feel able to
incorporate into their lives.
The Co-operative
The co-operative currently consists of eight people. Our ages vary from
Pete at 24 years old to Lee who is in her fifties. Since April 2000,
two people have left the co-operative to become involved in other permaculture
projects.
We spent two years prior to moving into the woods researching and planning
the project, looking for land, and setting up the project.
The group has a diverse range of skills, qualifications and experience.
We have attended courses on eco-build, straw bale construction, organic
growing, commercial horticulture, green woodworking and permaculture
design. We have acquired skills and knowledge through being involved
in horticulture and permaculture projects, and through living on the
land - in some cases for many years. Furthermore, as a group we volunteered
at Tinkers Bubble, a similar woodland project, gaining experience in
coppicing, felling, snedding and other woodland skills. We now, of course,
have over a year's experience of living and working at Steward Wood.
Agenda 21
The environmental problems we face in the 21st century are causing increasing
and widespread concern. We believe that the best and only way forward
for many of us to address these issues is on a local, grassroots level.
This accords with the views and policies of many governments and inter-governmental
agreements, such as Agenda 21 of the international Rio Declaration.
The project is a working and living example of sustainability, conservation,
and environmental improvements. The woodland is also simply a place
where people can come and enjoy themselves amongst the trees, plants,
wildflowers, birds and animals. We are an active member of Devon 21
(the Local Agenda 21 network).
Surveying
As well as constructing our dwellings and essential infrastructure,
coppicing ash and sycamore, and creating garden spaces, we spent our
first year at Steward Wood surveying the land and its wildlife, gathering
information about the local area and researching how we can best provide
for local needs.
We have been studying
rainfall, water flow, sunlight, wind speed and direction, soil quality
and erosion risk, plant and animal life and habitat. This land surveying
process has brought in and will continue to bring in experts in the
relevant fields to give us the most useful information possible in forming
our overall plan for the land.
We have gone to
great lengths to research the history of the land at Steward Wood. This
has involved talking with our neighbours and the residents of Moreton,
looking at old maps and delving into books in the local library. Our
research into local needs has taken the form of speaking to local people,
delivering a questionnaire to the residents of Moretonhampstead, attending
Parish Council meetings, and so on. This commitment to integrating both
socially and financially into the wider local community will be a continuing
process.
The reason we have
gone to such lengths to gather information on the land and surrounding
area for the first year is to allow us to create an overall plan for
the land which efficiently utilises its qualities in harmony with each
of the four seasons. This principle of observing carefully the character
of the land allows us to work with, rather than against, the rhythms
and patterns in nature, thus ensuring a low input, high output strategy
which is sustainable. We have now produced our Management & Biodiversity
Action Plan based on this information (see below) and a short to long
term permaculture site design.
Structures and
Land Uses
We have a number of proposals for the different structures and land
uses that might be found at Steward Community Woodland. These are set
out below:
* New Public Access
and Woodland Walks
As well as working with Devon County Council and Sustrans to assist
in the establishment of a cycle track and walkway from Moreton to Bovey
Tracey via the old railway track at Steward Community Woodland, we have
recently opened a woodland walk through part of the wood. We hope to
extend the woodland walk and we will be applying to the Forestry Commission
for a Woodland Improvement grant to help finance this development. We
have spoken with Rupert Lane, Head of Trees & Woodland at the National
Park, about linking this new public access with the adjoining woods
owned by the National Park. It is planned that the extended woodland
walk will incorporate discrete information plaques (in character with
the wood) to give visitors greater insight into the nature of the wood,
its flora, fauna and history.
* Demonstration
Permaculture Gardens
Our main public display area is planned to be a demonstration permaculture
garden, incorporating a 'forest garden', sited in the unplanted area
of land just above the disused railway track. This will give visitors
an inspiring vision into how organic food, medicine, shelter, heating
and even clothing products can be produced in a sustainable fashion
with minimal input and with high yields from plants growing in a diverse
and beautiful environment.
These gardens will be an integral part of the educational aspect of
the project and will provide a backdrop for running courses and workshops
on, for example, permaculture design and organic growing.
We recently ran a one day course on 'Community Woodlands' under the
auspices of the Small Woods Association.
* Low Impact Dwellings
The other seven woodland workers and I are living in temporary low impact
dwellings. These structures are without foundations and made primarily
of coppiced wood and re-used canvas. They are screened and unobtrusive
to local residents or visitors to the woodland. The dwellings are heated
by wood burning stoves and are generally constructed as timber platforms
on stilts (to provide a flat floor on the sloping valley side) with
bender-style roofs (made of bent-over hazel poles covered by green tarpaulin
and insulated with blankets). They are designed and placed to fit in
harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Nearly all have now been
fitted with windows looking out into the valley. Most of the materials
for building our structures and systems are from the wood, or reused
or recycled. These structures, although temporary, are wind and waterproof
and with the heating of the wood-burning stoves took us through the
autumn (the wettest on record) and winter in reasonable comfort. We
may in the future apply for planning permission to build more energy
efficient low impact dwellings such as straw bale dwellings.
The structures that we have erected so far are the Kitchen, the Longhouse
(a communal space housing an office area, library, sleeping area for
visitors, and lounge area), a small visitors' bender, and six dwellings
for individuals. Outside the Settlement Area, we have placed a tarpaulin
over the walls of the former Dartington Trust tree nursery to create
an 'agricultural shed', a space for working in and storing materials
adjacent to the Growing Area. Just above the disused railway track we
have set up a bender-style bike shed.
* Craft Workshops
Steward Community Woodland will be running a number of courses and workshops
to preserve traditional rural skills and crafts and to generate a small
income. It is envisaged that the project might eventually incorporate
a number of ecologically designed workshop spaces for local craftspeople
and artisans.
* Visitors Centre
When the project is more established, it is envisaged that a small,
appropriately designed 'Visitors Centre' would enhance the enjoyment
and functionality of the project. This would certainly not be some kind
of large complex involving a cafe, gift shop, museum etc, but simply
a small structure to provide day visitors with dry space should it rain
and an area within which to display information, exhibit crafts, run
courses, and so on. The building itself would be a demonstration of
environmental design, utilising techniques such as cob, straw bale construction,
with perhaps thatch or turf roofing. Obviously any future plans for
a Visitors Centre play no part in our current planning application and
would require a separate application and public consultation before
being considered on its own merits by the National Park Authority.
* Tree Nursery
An essential part of the project will be to raise trees from seed and
seedlings, not only to re-forest the existing wood with predominantly
broad-leaved species, but also to sell on young trees to the wider community.
This aspect of the project will be restoring one of Steward Wood's historical
functions. As little as forty years ago, one of the Dartington Hall
Trust nurseries was still in operation at Steward Wood. These nurseries
were responsible for the coniferous afforestation of Dartmoor at that
time.
* Compost Toilets
To create a 'closed loop' of nutrients, the fertile waste from those
living in the community is being recycled by using compost toilets.
We also plan to build and use 'tree bogs' in the future. These are two
well tried and tested methods for safely turning what is usually considered
a waste material or even pollutant into high quality compost for use
around fruit trees or into wood in the form of willow for basket or
hurdle making. Compost toilets have been approved and used by a wide
range of groups and bodies such as the National Trust and the Slapton
Ley Field Studies Centre in Devon.
* Picnic and Play
Area
As part of the woodland walk and walkway/cycle track, it is planned
that a picnic and play area will be created for public enjoyment. This
might be best positioned at the north western end of the disused railway
track close to the pond which until recently has been used as a dump.
This pond will be cleaned up and turned into a beautiful wildlife habitat.
Grant funding is being applied for to help finance this development.
* Community Composting
We are planning to have facilities for composting garden waste from
the local community. The compost created will be used over the demonstration
gardens and by members of the Moretonhampstead Community Composting
Association. In the future if the law is changed, the compost may be
sold to generate income. For every tonne of waste diverted from landfill
sites, the project will receive landfill tax recycling credits from
Teignbridge District Council. This aspect of the project will help the
local authority to implement its mandate to reduce waste going to landfill
and, at the same time, will both raise awareness of environmental issues
and give Steward Community Woodland another interface with the wider
local community.
We are part of the Devon Community Composting Network which is helping
to implement the "Devon Recycling" Initiative of the Devon
Authorities Waste Reduction & Recycling Committee.
The proposed scheme is modeled on a similar project initiated by the
'Proper Job Co-op' in the nearby town of Chagford which is of a similar
size to Moretonhampstead.
This will be a collection only service. The green 'waste' will be collected
on regular dates from pre-arranged pick-up points in Moreton and the
surrounding area. We may arrange a charged home pick-up service at a
later date. We will not accept delivery of waste from the public direct
to our site in order to minimise disturbance to our neighbours and to
enable us to monitor and maintain the quality of the 'waste' for composting.
The scheme is aimed at providing composting for the bulky garden waste
that many people do not have room to compost themselves. Such wastes
usually make up a significant proportion of the material going into
landfill sites. The scheme will not collect and compost highly putrescible
materials such as cooked kitchen wastes. Information about home composting
and worm bins will be available in order to encourage people to handle
such wastes at home.
It is envisaged that the composting would take place in specially constructed
bins placed to one side of the disused railway track. Unfortunately,
we have recently put the community composting scheme on hold because
the Environment Agency have refused to grant us an exemption from a
waste processing licence on the grounds that we don't yet have planning
permission.
* Forest Garden
& Orchard
Part of the demonstration permaculture garden would be an extended forest
garden and orchard which would provide many of the resources needed
by the community, along with a surplus to supply the growing local market
for fresh organic produce.
* Low Intervention
Wildlife Zone
A large area within Steward Community Woodland is being set aside for
minimum intervention by humans. We allow natural regeneration of native
broadleaf species to occur in this area, controlling the sycamore, and
in the longer term felling the larch. There will be no unnecessary human
activity in this area to enable its use by other animals.
* Renewable Energy
Examples
The community at Steward Wood is utilising small scale renewable energy
systems such as solar and micro-hydro power to supply a 12v system for
essential services. The production and use of electricity through these
systems will be monitored for research and educational purposes and
information on them and how to reduce energy consumption would be displayed
in the possible future Visitors Centre.
Outreach, Local
Input and Involvement
It is our vision to be as integrated as possible into the local community.
As we wish the woodland and project to be a valuable local resource,
providing scope for local involvement, and an educational resource,
outreach has been very important from the beginning.
Immediately after
moving into the woods in April 2000, we delivered copies of a colour
leaflet about our project together with a questionnaire to all households
in Moretonhampstead and environs, and Chagford. The leaflet and questionnaire
delivery accomplished its aim of understanding local needs, informing
local people about the project and providing opportunities for people
to get involved in Steward Community Woodland. We have had much positive
feedback since then. We have talked to many local people, had many visitors
to the woods, and established many links with the local community. The
results of the questionnaire and other feedback we've received have
enabled us to assess local needs and adapt our plans accordingly. Many
local people have expressed their happiness with our decision to allow
a cycle and walking track (in conjunction with Devon County Council
and Sustrans) to be built along the disused railway track at the bottom
of the woods. Overwhelming support for this scheme was evidenced by
the results of the recent Parish Appraisal. (Devon County Council will
be submitting a separate planning application in relation to this.)
We held a campfire
evening as part of Moreton's carnival week with a marquee, food and
cider, and acoustic music, which lots of locals enjoyed. We are intending
to do the same this year. We produce a quarterly newsletter for local
people, write regular updates in 'The News in Moreton', and have a comprehensive
website with news and info about the project and some of the related
wider issues, a photo gallery, and how-to guides. We also have a portable
pole lathe, shaving horse and cycle-powered sound system which we take
to Moreton's Summer Fair, green fairs, and similar events.
Management of
the Woodland
We have recently completed our Management & Biodiversity Action
Plan, which includes our management policies, aims and objectives; detailed
information on how each of the areas in the wood will be managed; and
strategies for the conservation of species of particular importance.
It is contained in Appendix I to this statement. In short, we aim to
encourage natural regeneration of broadleaf native species, create new
and improve the existing coppice areas, create and improve wildlife
habitat, and bring under control invasive species. This is in accordance
with the aims of the Devon Biodiversity Action Plan on upland oak woodland
(produced by Devon County Council).
Business and
Finance
We have also now completed our Business & Enterprise Plan - see
Appendix II. It is planned that the project at Steward Wood will eventually
provide all the food, shelter, fuel and power needs of the residents,
and will also be financially viable. The project will thus be a valuable
contribution to and will help to diversify the local rural economy.
Steward Community
Woodland is currently investigating obtaining charitable status to enable
tax free giving by our supporters and to widen our potential funding
base.
Need for the
Residential Element
Living on-site is essential if this sustainable project is to be viable.
Living in conventional housing in nearby towns and commuting to the
site could only be supported by having full-time jobs elsewhere, leaving
us with little or no time to carry out the project. Living in the woods,
we can dedicate all of our time to the project and be fully committed
to it. We reside in low impact dwellings (which are temporary and biodegradable)
and utilise renewable sources of energy while reducing our fossil fuel
and vehicle use to an absolute minimum. We appreciate that this lifestyle
might seem unusual to many but traditionally woodland workers have lived
and worked in the woods in a similar way.
There is a proven
need for sustainable land use and development (see the Rio Declaration
and Agenda 21). Permaculture and forest gardening are examples of sustainable
land use. They are low input and high output in terms of energy and
resources but are highly intensive in terms of people power. On-site
workers are essential and much of the advantage of this type of agriculture
is only obtained because the produce is picked fresh and consumed quickly
in the locality without the need to transport it long distances, store
it for long periods or process it for market. Any polytunnels/greenhouses
will require frequent attention from residential workers as will charcoal
burning kilns, sap taps etc. The educational and recreational aspects
of the project are also best served by on-site workers who also provide
security for the facilities, tools and other equipment.
In addition to the
functional reasons for living at the woods, it is an essential part
of our philosophy to be living close to nature, observing the land throughout
the year and in all weather conditions. Furthermore, affordable rural
accommodation is in very short supply.
We are demonstrating
the ability to live without connection to any of the utilities (water,
electricity, gas, sewage disposal), providing all of these services
ourselves by ecological and sustainable means (filtered spring water,
reed bed 'grey water' filtering, compost toilets, renewable energy).
We minimise pollution by promoting and practising a way of life that
reduces unsustainable consumption, its associated wastes and throw-away
culture. We reduce, reuse, repair and recycle wherever possible - and
encourage others to do the same.
In short, this project (which many people locally and around the country
find laudable) would be impossible to achieve without a residential
element. Commuting to work is the antithesis of sustainability. It would
not only put an extra strain on the roads, but integrating people with
nature and with low impact production is a vital ingredient of sustainable
development.
Conditions &
Guarantees
While seeking a change of use to allow a residential element, we also
believe that it is in the best interests of ourselves, the Dartmoor
National Park Authority, local people, and the environment for any planning
permission granted to be subject to conditions and guarantees to ensure
that only environmentally benign, low impact development can take place
on the land. We are as concerned as others that granting a change in
the land use classification might allow inappropriate high impact development
in through the back door at some point in the future. Conditions attached
to the planning permission would avoid this happening and would guarantee
for the DNPA and the public that the project would continue in its aims
of sustainable land use and being of benefit to the local community
and economy.
Thus, we propose
that temporary planning permission be granted for 5 years (allowing
reassessment by the DNPA at the end of that time) and that the Settlement
Area (ie. the area of human habitation) be limited to a defined area
within the middle of the woodland holding. We have also set out in a
proposed s.106 agreement the following conditions:
(a) That the number of permanent adult residents shall not exceed 20.
(b) That the maximum number of residents' vehicles on site shall not
exceed 3.
(c) That the project shall at all times be managed in such a way as
to comply with the detailed "Fifteen Criteria for sustainable developments
in the countryside" as produced by the Rural Planning Group. The
Criteria relate to, inter alia, minimisation of car use and waste; integration
of the project into the local economy and community; easily dismantleable
structures made of local materials which are not visually intrusive;
autonomous provision of water, energy and sewage disposal; ecological
management of the site; sustainable practices for agricultural and forestry
activities.
Since we set out
the boundaries of the 'Settlement Area' in a map attached to our letter
to the DNPA dated 14th August 2000, we have decided to shrink the size
of the Settlement Area somewhat. This is because we want to bring the
dwellings closer together, creating more of a village feel, and to minimise
any impacts on wildlife. The maps contained within the Management &
Biodiversity Action Plan at Appendix I show the current extent of the
Settlement Area.
Why in a 'Woodland
of Conservation Importance'?
Virtually all the woodland in Dartmoor is currently designated as
'woodland of conservation importance'. It is a classification that was
given to all the wooded areas shown on maps of Dartmoor regardless of
their type or value for wildlife. Steward Wood is conifer plantation
which we will manage so that it reverts to native deciduous woodland,
increasing biodiversity and enhancing its beauty. This is in line with
Park policy and the Biodiversity Action Plan for the area. Our presence
in the woodland will deter deer damage, which is recognised as a major
threat to natural regeneration.
Setting a Precedent?
We hope that this project will be considered on its merits and if it
is considered laudable then the precedent that it sets is a good one.
It is clear that people will not be rushing to live in the woods if
permission is granted. It is not easy to get this type of project together
(in terms of people, land and financing), and it involves a lot of hard
work and commitment. Any possible future projects of a similar nature
would have to be examined on their own merits and as rigorously as ours
has been.
Vehicle Usage
and Access
Part of Steward Community Woodland is a section of the disused railway
track that once served Moretonhampstead. At the point where the track
crossed the A382, there now exists a highly visible entrance providing
safe access to and from the road. This access has long been used by
the residents of the neighbouring cottages who use the track for parking.
There is ample parking on the track for the limited number of vehicles
that will be used by the project.
The project is committed
to reducing the reliance on vehicles fueled by fossil fuel. Use of sustainable
modes of transport (walking, cycling, public transport) is encouraged
amongst the group while the ownership of private vehicles is discouraged.
There is only one communal vehicle being used where necessary (and no
private vehicles) and we are happy to be bound to a planning condition
limiting our number of vehicles in use to three. We are closely monitoring
our vehicle usage and are averaging three vehicle movements per week.
Were we not resident on the land, the number of vehicle journeys would
certainly increase as we would have to 'commute' in order to visit and
work on the land.
By growing much
of our own food, we are further reducing the need for vehicle journeys.
Furthermore, the construction of the cycle and walkway along the route
of the disused railway track will provide additional opportunities for
reducing vehicle use and traffic while also improving road safety.
Issues relating
to Neighbours
The settlement is discrete and unobtrusive. The settlement does not
overlook neighbouring properties and likewise cannot be seen from those
properties.
While the agricultural
and forestry operations within the woodland will unavoidably create
some occasional noise (even though no fossil fuel machinery is being
used), the residential aspect of the project creates very little noise
beyond that normally associated with people enjoying the recreational
use of a woodland.
It is possible that
there may be concern over smells from compost heaps, but correctly managed
composting facilities are not likely to create excessive or unpleasant
smells.
The project is enhancing
the amenity value of the area for local residents and providing permissive
public access to the site which they did not previously enjoy.
Visitors
While the project does attract some visitors from outside of the region,
our priorities lie in providing for the needs of the local community.
We plan to have only a small area for visitor parking on the disused
railway track. We hope that many of our visitors will decide to come
by walking, cycling, or by public transport (especially once the cycleway
has been constructed).
Wildlife and
the Project
In the long term, the project will increase the opportunities for wildlife
in the woods by regenerating a mixed, native broadleaf woodland. Trees
such as oak and birch have a high associated insect count, and therefore
supply a larger wildlife food chain than the present plantation trees.
In the short to medium term, our plans for diverse forest gardens will
transform the field of Rosebay Willow Herb in the Growing Area to a
rich collection of wildlife habitats. We also have a low intervention
wildlife zone at the top of the woods where it meets the neighbouring
semi-natural oak woodland. Human activities in this area will be limited
to allow space for other animals.
The Settlement Area
(where most of the human activity takes place) is contained to within
one area of the woodland, within the thinned Japanese Larch canopy.
These trees have the lowest associated insect count in the wood and
therefore the least value for wildlife. In other similar woodland projects
there seems to have been very little detrimental effect on the other
woodland creatures. Indeed, our experience is that the vast majority
of the birds, insects and small animals have not been disrupted by our
presence. It seems that larger animals are deterred from the areas around
humans (useful in the case of preventing deer damage to saplings) but
they generally become accustomed to their new neighbours in time.
It is worth bearing
in mind that the human animal is a part of nature, and one of the greatest
challenges we face at this time is finding ways in which humans can
begin to see themselves and act as a part of natural cycles and habitats.
We hope our project will be exploring ways of integrating the human
animal back into 'wildlife' and 'nature', rather than furthering the
destructive mental and physical separation of humans from the rest of
the living world.
Vision for Dartmoor
National Park
In the 'Dartmoor National Park Management Plan (Consultation Draft -
February 2000), a vision is presented of Dartmoor as "a place where
all human activity is in harmony with the conservation and enhancement
of the area's scenic beauty, ecological value and cultural heritage.
It is a place of inspiration, of evolution and of socio-economic viability,
where resources are managed sustainably." We believe our plans
for Steward Community Woodland are a step towards such a vision.
Appendix I - Management
& Biodiversity Action Plan (PDF)
Appendix II - Business
& Enterprise Plan (PDF))
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