Gorne Wood Update, April 2024

The Story so far

The incredible community fundraising to save Gorne Wood has raised over £100,000. We’re so grateful to everyone who contributed, locally, nationally and from around the world, with online donations, cake sales, sponsored bike rides, walks, fundraising gigs and theatre performances. We know how much this piece of Ancient Woodland means to you all. With your help we’ve raised enough for Lewisham Council to start the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to buy the land from the owner. The first phase of this process has been to prove that all attempts to buy the land directly from the owner have been exhausted. Over the last year we and Lewisham Council have repeatedly tried to engage with the landowner. We will continue to do. The second phase is to provide evidence to argue the case to the Government that this land should be protected for the community and biodiversity and not for development. We also have to show we have a sustainable plan for managing it. We have substantial evidence and are close to completing the Business Plan. The Council says it has included Gorne Wood as Metropolitan Open Land – London’s equivalent to Green Belt – in the Lewisham Local Plan. Once adopted by the Government this will be a big landmark, and the Council wants to wait for this to be finalised before moving on with the CPO. But it feels like it’s taking forever! We agree. Although we must accept that CPOs take time, we are extremely concerned about the slow process because of the impact the delays have on this vulnerable landscape, left unsecured by the land owner since before the fundraising campaign began. The latest events show exactly what we’re worried about. On the evening of April 6th, a group of young teenagers walked on to the unsecured woodland and set fire to the dilapidated former Scout hut that the community have repeatedly urged the Council to inspect due to risk of collapse. Fortunately, local people spotted smoke billowing from the broken windows and called the Emergency Services. Firefighters attended and put the fire out. Had local people not been so vigilant, those children’s lives would certainly have been at risk, and the fire could easily have got out of control destroying the ancient trees and rare wildlife that the local community is working incredibly hard to save. We believe that enforcement action can’t wait any longer and that the need for a CPO has never been more urgent. How can you help? If you live in the borough of Lewisham, please email your local councillors and Mayor Brenda Dacre highlighting the risks to them. We need as many people as possible to contact them so they can see what a pressing issue this is for local residents. Your councillor may not be aware of Gorne Wood, you can direct them to our website for further information https://fourthreserve.org/campaigns/ How to contact Lewisham Council

You can find your local Lewisham councillors here by entering your postcode. Please include your address in your email, so your councillor knows you are a local resident.

https://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx

Or you can email your local councillors via this online tool:

https://www.writetothem.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw7zx-ZKyhQMVKZhQBh05FQM7EAAYASAAEgLZA_D_BwE

The Mayor’s e-mail address is brenda.dacres@lewisham.gov.uk

Suggested wording for email but please do form your own words if you can

‘Gorne Wood needs the new Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres and the Director of Regeneration Patrick Dubeck to act quickly. The former Scout hut must be demolished, the site must be robustly secured and most importantly the Compulsory Purchase Order process must be formally initiated with the landowner now so that this woodland can finally be saved.

Having raised so much money and having proved beyond any doubt the heritage, biodiversity and community value of the site, we no longer want to hear excuses.

This incredible community campaign, with thousands of donors rallying to save the land, has captured the attention of national media and inspired similar groups around the UK. It needs the support of our elected officials to save a site so precious to so many local people, as well as of vital importance to local nature.’

Do let us know if you’ve contacted your councillors and please encourage your neighbours and friends to do so as well.

We need to make sure this project remains a priority at Lewisham Council and only you can do this by making your voice heard.

Many thanks for your ongoing support. The Fourth Reserve Foundation