ENVIRONMENTAL campaogners and opponents of the proprosed Lower Thames Crossing have welcomed news today (Thursday, 7 September) than an area of Thurrock has been granted special status.

The Wilderness, a private woodland in South Ockenden on the path of the £10 billion Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), has been granted a new status of Long Established Woodland (LEW) by statutory wildlife body, Natural England.

The Wilderness is one of the first woodlands in the UK to achieve this new status.

Planning inspectors at the LTC examination will now be discussing The Wilderness tomorow and are also planning a site visit on WSednesday, 13 September. 

The Wilderness was once part of the Saltonstall estate, Groves Manor, which was home to Sir Richard Saltonstall, Lord Mayor of London in the late 1500s. The woodland contains ancient woodland indicators such as Spindle, Lime, Bluebells, Red Campion, and is home to a variety of protected bat species.

Long Established Woodland status is a new category created by Natural England, to protect mature woodlands as they develop into ancient woodland, and to recognise and protect their high ecological and societal value. 

For a woodland to be added to the new Long Established Woodland Inventory, evidence that the woodland was in existence in 1839 is one proviso needed.

Thames Crossing Action Group (TCAG) have provided Natural England with maps that shows The Wilderness woodland dates back to 1767, more than 125 years longer than needed to secure inclusion in the new inventory. 

TCAG Chair Laura Blake said: "Thames Crossing Action Group welcomes the news that The Wilderness is amongst the first woodlands to be added to the new Long Established Woodland Inventory.

"This ancient and tranquil woodland and all the wildlife it supports will be destroyed by the Lower Thames Crossing, if it goes ahead.

"Given the LTC will not solve the traffic problems at Dartford and the crossing will still be over capacity, the destruction and harm caused to this and other woodlands, and the increased carbon and pollution is just not worth it.

"The new Long Established Woodland status awarded to The Wilderness is just another reason in a long list for why the LTC should be rejected."