Plans in to create new St. Saviour woodland near Five Oaks

Tuesday 16 August 2022

A new woodland could be created in St. Saviour if Planning agree to allow of change of use of two fields that have not been farmed for more than a decade.

The fields are on the corner of Rue du Tapon and Princes Tower Road and cover 5.56 vergées, or just over a hectare.

If approved, almost 800 trees will be planted and more than 600 hawthorn, sloe and hazel planted to make hedges.

A ‘design statement’ which forms part of the planning application states: “As trees establish and the canopy covers over, the area will soon change to become a different environment for nesting birds and feeding squirrels, just to name a few.

“The hope is that it will also become a nature trail for the schools and other community groups to learn about wildlife and environmental matters.”

The application adds that it is planned that over the third and fourth weekends of November, groups from St. Saviour will be invited to plant the trees in marked locations and add mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

Pictured: If approved, the woodland would be surrounded by Rue du Tapon, Rue du Pré and Princes Tower Road.

It says: “The fields are located east of Five Oaks, a very large area of housing and industrial units. There are very few areas in this location where wildlife can benefit from the nature that these fields have to offer. 

“Tree planting will give a greater protection for nesting birds and because the water area leading to the lavoir exists, it attracts a greater variety of species of wildlife.”

Pictured: The fields from Princes Tower Road.

The granite lavoir, which was used in temps passé for washing clothes, is in Rue du Pré. The applicant does not intend to touch the wet area that feeds the lavoir but will plant alder and birch on either side.

Trees planned to be planted in the fields - S541 and S559, to give them their official designation – include wild cherry, small-leaved lime, field maple, downy birch, hornbeam and oak.

Bird nesting and squirrel feeding boxes will also be placed in part of the proposed site in winter.