Approximately 8 years ago a newly erected wooden gate, to secure the entrance to Alex Farm Pastures, was sawn in half with a chain-saw.
I never entered beyond the gate and had no idea the site was an SSSI. But those in professional nature conservation did, and in their words - "The pastures represent one of the best surviving examples in Kent of unimproved neutral grassland, a nationally rare habitat".
And so the gate hung, swinging in the wind for years, leaving the land beyond vulnerable to off-roading and shooting and it was only a matter of time before it was ruined.
..all it ever needed was a metal gate. Protection against off-roading in Orlestone Forest seems to be a half-hearted concern by the authorities. Signs and metal posts and bollards go up one year, and are down the next.
To the reckless off-roaders who do this damage, I doubt they feel any authority is going to stop them . . . I'm sure they'll be back.
All the site ever need was a metal gate to prevent the trashing of a rare and unique site.
2 comments:
Hi N ick, I'm with you all the way on this. I walk past here multiple times a week and despair at the damage caused.
Martin
Do you subscribe to any other websites about this? I'm struggling to find other reputable sources like yourself
Amela
Off Roading Leicester
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