24 November 2020
Right on our door step is one of the most beautiful and most fragile environments. Cannock Chase is a remarkably varied landscape with ancient woodland, open heath and forestry. We are privileged to have in residence four of Britain’s six reptile species along with some rare and endangered birds like the nightjar, woodlark and woodcock, not to mention some seldom seen plants and insects. We are very lucky.
About 26 sq miles of the Chase is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and some parts are of such importance that they are listed as both a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
For decades, people from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas have enjoyed the freedom of the Chase and have wandered at will, with very little concern about the impact that all of our leisure activity is having on the landscape, the flora and fauna.
We are now in danger of destroying this beautiful, rare and fragile habitat because too many of us want to wander at will and by doing so we erode and fragment the heath, disturb the nesting birds, disrupt the natural rhythm of the wildlife and trample the ground cover.
The Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation Partnership (SAC) proposals to protect the Chase have not come a moment too soon. As with all proposed changes there is a loud clamour from some Chase users who can only see the curtailment of their activities, however slight, as an assault upon their human rights without considering the rights of all the other species we share the planet with.
There is, thank God, a slow but growing awareness that as a species we must begin to take more care of the natural world and, if that means re-directing human activity on the Chase to the more robust areas, for example around Marquis Drive, and reducing it on the fragile and sensitive areas, for example around Brocton and over towards the Commonwealth Cemetery, then so be it. If that means reducing the number of car parks in the sensitive fragile areas and increasing car parking in the less sensitive more robust areas, fine! If some car parking has to be pay and display, fine!
At some point we need to take a long hard look at ourselves and recognise that we are not the most important species on the planet, that is probably the bumble bee and accept responsibility for protecting the natural world for the future.
You will find all the detail and factual content you need on Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation Partnership (SAC), please read it and write to your councillor supporting the proposals.
Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation Partnership (SAC)
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/environment/Environment-and-countryside/Cannock-Chase-SAC-Mitigation.aspx
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