Over the Easter weekend I found myself reluctantly having a spiky conversation with some very long-standing friends whose daughter recently left Tormead. They pedalled out the “Oh, but what about the benefits of the Urnfield development to other schools and the local community” line that has been used by Tormead and County School throughout, with… Continue reading Anyone want to play “spot the difference”?
Latest News
How many holes are there in the ecological plan?
Last week a detailed and excoriating assessment of Tormead’s ecological management plan for the Urnfield development appeared on the borough council’s website.
Are Nationally Protected Landscapes Protected?
This news comes to our blog from @merrowdarkskies and you can follow this feed, see the twitter link on the top right hand corner of our save merrow downs website. #Urbanisation is a condition we should not be subject to and the #Greenbelt is fast browning? Just how many developments acknowledged by Inspectors as contrary… Continue reading Are Nationally Protected Landscapes Protected?
Inspired by “Wild Isles”?
I have just been in a webinar run by Natural England and the BBC, giving an insight into the filming of the latest nature series fronted by the legendary SDA. If you haven’t seen any of it then stop what you are doing right now and get on to iPlayer. It is like a moving… Continue reading Inspired by “Wild Isles”?
Mother’s Day Treat
My Mothers’ Day Treat on Merrow Downs
Forget the flowers, chocolates, even the promise of a tidy teenage bedroom. What I wanted for Mothers’ Day was a pair of night vision binoculars and a willing companion to come and look for badgers. To everyone’s surprise, my 14 year old daughter agreed.
We have spotted through the fence of the boundary to Urnfield, a large amount of discarded waste. The waste chemical container is labelled ‘Mascot’. If this is Mascot systemic chemical for treating earthworms, it is highly toxic to humans and wildlife.. This is located to where we know there is badger activity and the lid handle appears to be worn away.
Mascot when sprayed is harmful to honey bees, and so if the grounds staff are still using it, it would be harmful to insects around and in the wild meadows below the field.
UrnField Planning Issues
Several local residents and Residents’ Associations have been busy in the last few weeks scrutinising the plans and strategies being sent in by Tormead to meet the conditions set down by the planning inspector. There seems to be very little triangulation going on at Tormead’s end….some of the plans (e.g. construction plan) directly contradict others (e.g. the Landscape and Ecology Management Plan). So it is left to us to point out the deficiencies and contradictions.
The Bulldozing Starts Soon
by SaveMerrowDowns, Organiser
Tormead private school want to begin bulldozing the Urnfield in April 2023. Badger Setts on the Urnfield should not be disturbed until after Summer 2023, by law due to the breeding season.
