A group of Frome residents has submitted an application to legally protect a much-loved wooded area by having it declared a village green. However, campaigners may be thwarted as the land is privately owned and lies in someone’s back garden.
The land, next to Egford Lane playing field, has been enjoyed as a play area and haven for wildlife by generations of Frome residents, says the campaigners. And now, facing the threat of losing it – the community is banding together and want to save the area for public use.
In January, the land’s new owner had most of the trees in the centre of the woodland cut down and shrubs and undergrowth removed, sparking fears that the land could be lost to development. Following an emergency campaign by local people and councillors, Mendip District Council placed an Emergency Tree Preservation Order on the land, preventing any further felling.
Frome Town Council also voted to recognise the land as a local Green Space in February.
Worried about the long-term future of the site, residents decided to apply to Somerset County Council for permanent protection, and to have the land declared a village green. For the application to be successful, they need to prove that the land has been used by the public unobstructed for at least 20 years. In support of their claim they have collected testimony from over 30 local people showing that the land has been used by the community since at least 1956.
Local resident and supporter of the village green campaign, Lorraine Evason said, “I grew up playing up in those woods, as did my two daughters and now my grandson. We used them for tree-climbing, den-building and nature spotting. Over the years we’ve seen slow-worms, hedgehogs, woodpeckers and bats in there. It’s such a rare and special place for our community.”
The group who put together the village green application had also appealed to the wider community to support their campaign by contributing their own stories of how they have used the woods. Rob Holden, one of the applicants said, “We would love to hear from anyone who used the woods next to Egford Lane playing field. Photos or videos of people using the area would be particularly helpful.” If you would like to help efforts to save the woodland, please email villagegreenfrome@.com or phone 07754 547096.
However, cllr Helen Sprawson-White for the Frome Oakfield Ward, who was responsible for the Emergency Tree Preservation Order being placed on the land, has said that she cannot support the village green application, following her own investigations
Cllr Sprawson-White said, “The deeds on the property clearly show that the ‘orchard’ is private land – and is in fact the owner’s back garden! And I have had several people contact me as a result of sharing the Facebook post with statements that regard being chased off the land in the past as they were trespassing. On inspection, there is also evidence of damage to existing boundaries – again suggesting forced entry. In effect, I think this means that this will mean that the village green application will be void.
“Whilst I am of course happy to support the TPO, I don’t believe the village green application is the right thing to do. I can’t help but think how I would feel if someone tried to make my back garden public space and how I would feel if my family’s security felt threatened by people trespassing in my garden. We all want our children to be able to play safely in our gardens, I’m sure you’d agree.
“The TPO would be enough to stop any potential ‘development’ on this site, which from discussions with Mendip officers I don’t believe is on the cards, and is what we all want. However, I don’t believe that this is a public space and the owners are within their rights to restrict access from the public – just as any of us would want to in our back gardens.
“As far as the park area goes, I feel that this is something that could and should be protected and perhaps could be considered as a village green site. Especially so if Mendip are reluctant to sell the land to Frome Town Council.
“For these reasons, I cannot support a Village Green application on the land. I also believe it is vital that general residents are aware that this has never been public land or community space, and that this is the private garden of the property. The owners want, quite reasonably I feel, to have a safe space for their young family to play.”
