Box Wood is a privately-owned 60-acre ancient woodland which has four important protections.
The whole wood is classified as Ancient Replanted Woodland by Natural England.
The southern end has earthworks, the remains of the medieval village of Boxe. This is a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England.
All of the trees in the wood have a Tree Preservation Order.
An Article 4 Direction has been issued by North East Herts Council on the whole of the wood.
In 1956 The Forestry Commission purchased a 999 year lease on the woodland which they subsequently sold in 1986 to the current owner. This lease was recently put up for sale with a completion date of 23rd July 2020.
The new purchaser SIPP Investments Ltd, established in June 2020, is selling on the woodland as plots and implying heavily that they can be built on. It is rumoured that a few plots have been bought by the travelling community.
Our Facebook group Friends of Box Wood was set up on 27th June 2020 to alert people to the sale of the woodland.
Actions taken to protect the ancient woodland and monument
On 2nd July, Stephen McPartland MP and Sir Oliver Heald MP, posted letters highlighting their concerns about sale and potential development of Box Wood.
Local newspaper The Comet has highlighted the campaign in several articles including front page news.
Slava & Trev from SG1 Radio have given major coverage and their support to the campaign.
A poster campaign around the wood boundary alerted potential purchasers of the protections put in place.
Walkern Parish Council, District Councillor Ken Crofton and East Herts District Council (EHDC) worked tirelessly to have a Tree Preservation Order placed on the whole of Box Wood.
The Article 4 Direction was issued by EHDC on 22 July 2020.
Friends of Fairlands Valley Farm submitted a Nomination of Asset of Community Interest for Box Wood to East Herts District Council on 13th July. If approved by EHDC before 22nd July it will block the current leasehold sale and give the community an extended period to purchase Box Wood. The nomination has been accepted by EHDC. We are now deciding our next steps regarding community fund raising.
Please continue to support the campaign by contacting EHDC, your local councillor and MP to help protect the ancient monument and save the woodland.