Villagers oppose woodland plan for cattle field

17 hours ago

Matt WeigoldDerby

News image — Councillor Paul Maginnis (second right), with the Grammer family and local residents, has started a petition opposing plans for the site in Sawley

BBC Four men and one woman stand by a metal gate attached to wooden fencing. There is a large grassy field behind them backing onto a graveyard. Trees, a house and a church can be seen in the distance. — Councillor Paul Maginnis (second right), with the Grammer family and local residents, has started a petition opposing plans for the site in Sawley

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition opposing plans to create a woodland on land in a village in Derbyshire where cows have grazed for decades.

The Grammer family said they had farmed the field beside All Saints Church in Sawley for six generations but Erewash Borough Council, which owns the land, had ended their lease in January.

The council announced its woodland plans for the site on Wednesday and said it could become a "haven for wildlife".

Mark Alfrey, lead member for environment at the authority, said: "Our aim is to co-create this project with key members of the local community and professional partners."

Farmer Alice Grammer said: "Everyone in Sawley just loves to see the cows there.

"It's quite sad to see that the council aren't really doing what the locals want.

"There isn't much farmland left in Sawley, a lot has been built on.

"This is the last field on the roadside that you can just drive past and see the cows so it is really sad."

A man and women stand by a metal gate attached to wooden fencing. There is a large green field behind them with a tractor and truck parked in it. The woman has long fair hair and a grey fleece. The man is wearing a black cap, green overalls and a grey hoodie. There are trees and industrial chimneys in the distance. — Alice Grammer and her dad Julian said they continued the family tradition of sharing their cattle with the community

Her father Julian Grammer said the council had given the family three months notice to end their tenancy agreement for the field in January.

He said he made an offer to buy the land to keep his cows there but that he did not receive a response.

"People stand at the fence with the kids patting the cattle and they're there for people to enjoy them," he said.

The council said the site had been refenced and added existing trees which were dying and in need of removal were being dealt with as a "necessary health and safety measure".

Sawley county councillor Paul Maginnis, who set up the Save Sawley Farmland petition, said the works were unexpected and residents had told him they were not properly informed about the future of the site.

"I've not had any involvement in this whatsoever and the people are clearly against it," he said.

"It is completely part of this community and people love seeing the cows.

"Farmers are the hardest working people in this country and they should be treated with a lot more respect."

Alfrey said the borough council was in the "earliest exploratory stages of this project, which is why formal public consultation has not yet started".

"We want to ensure we have the right information before inviting the community to help us shape the vision," he added.

Alice Grammer A woman with long blonde hair hugging a black and white cow. They are in a grassy field. Se is wearing a black fleece. — Alice Grammer is the sixth generation of her family to have farmed on the field in Sawley

Alfrey said the council's plans would "enhance the local biodiversity and provide key habitats as well as slow and contain flood waters".

He said he was "aware of the local affection for the site's heritage as a grazing field".

"While the lease has ended, we view this as an opportunity to co-create a 'nature haven' that balances nature with community use.

"We look forward to engaging directly with local residents, farmers, and partners in the coming months to ensure the final plans reflect the needs and aspirations of Sawley residents," Alfrey added.

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