Issue - meetings

Presentation to the Environment and Climate Action Scrutiny Panel to provide an update on the rewilding of Enfield Chase.

Ian Russell gave a presentation on this item, highlighting the key points and updates on the re-wilding programme.

The Chair thanked the officer for the presentation and members commented as follows:

1.    Cllr Jewell stated that around 8 weeks ago a new beaver couple had been placed in the enclosure and they were being closely monitored. The team were working on press releases and other communications to inform the public, which would be going out shortly.

2.    Cllr Laban asked if the tenants at Vicarage Farm had been moved because it was a strategic policy. Officers responded that funding was available from DEFRA which allowed all farmers to engage with the Council when farmland was not always suitable for arable farming. Cllr Jewell stated that there was no farming currently taking place at Whitewebbs (Farm), so it made sense to change the use of the farmland.

3.    Cllr Laban queried what had happened to the third beaver. Officer stated that the beaver had been relocated elsewhere to a larger site as it had become aggressive and there would be more space therefore less territorial pressure.

4.    Cllr Stevens, with regards to urban rewilding, asked if there were plans to plant 2000 trees in Albany Park and how much space this would take up. The Councillor queried the proposal of 1million new trees which were due to be planted, and whether these would be located in Enfield Chase. The Officer confirmed that the park was 10 hectares so there would still be plenty of space within the park. Some public consultation was to take place with regards to the different species of trees that should be planted. The Officer also confirmed that the majority of the 1million trees would be planted within the Enfield Chase area to prevent overplanting in urban areas as there were plans for 25,000 street trees to be planted but there may also be other potential areas for planting within some urban areas.

5.    Cllr Stevens asked whether there were plans to increase sustainable transport links would be increasing especially in the east of the borough. The Officer stated that there was an indicative plan of which would take many years to develop/implement. Officers were working with Journeys and Places to improve linkages between different parts of the borough.

6.    At the discretion of the Chair, Members of the public asked questions of the Officer around sustainable transport links, arable land, and funding for alternative landscapes/wetlands throughout the meeting and Officer responded to them accordingly.