Following news that Hive Aggregates has now submitted a planning application to extract PFA on land adjacent to the Trust’s Idle Valley Nature Reserve near Retford, the charity has reiterated its determination to ensure that the proposals do not threaten the site’s wildlife, the wildlife which relies on adjacent habitats or ruin people’s enjoyment of the popular site.

Speaking on behalf of the Trust, which will celebrate 60 years of standing up for nature in 2023, Janice Bradley MBE said:

“We have already made our concerns clear during the pre-application consultations and will now carefully review the full planning application when it comes out for consultation. We will pay particular attention to the Environmental Statement which considers how the site and its wildlife may be affected either positively or negatively. We would urge anyone concerned about the possible impacts on wildlife or on their personal enjoyment of the reserve and surrounding countryside to review the detail and to make any concerns known. We also understand that the applicant plans further public consultation in the weeks ahead and we would urge people to take part to ensure their voice is heard.”

From the earliest possible stage the Trust has engaged directly with the Applicants to ensure that ecological importance of the Idle Valley Nature Reserve and SSSI was fully understood by all concerned.

Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Head of Nature Recovery (North) Janice Bradley added:

“Idle Valley Nature Reserve is at the heart of our local work and is cherished by people who care about and wish to connect with nature. We very much understand why these proposals are causing concern and are determined to ensure that plans will not threaten wildlife or people’s enjoyment of the reserve or other vital wildlife habitats nearby.”

Janice continued: Our response to date reflects robust planning principles and our strategic goals for protecting and restoring priority habitats and species. We will do everything we can to protect the site’s wildlife and nearby habitats through the planning process.”

In recent years, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s input to the minerals planning process has helped protect Misson Carr Nature Reserve from the threat of fracking and, after eight years of campaigning, the charity helped secure the withdrawal of damaging plans for a huge sand and gravel quarry on the opposite bank of the Trent to our Attenborough Nature Reserve. But, as with all mineral applications, it is important to weigh up the potential benefits that can arise from well managed extraction schemes that result in high quality creation of new wildlife habitats at scale.

Janice added: “We will apply the same rigour and passion to our efforts to protect the Idle Valley Nature Reserve and adjacent habitats as we have to protecting many other sites down the years. We will base our response to the planning application on robust science and our target to secure nature’s recovery on 30% of land in Notts by 2030 and where appropriate, we will seek to mobilise members, supporters and local residents.”