Ancient woodland still at risk from HS2

Scrapping the northern phase has spared some sites, but woodlands and reserves remain under threat

- James Fair

HUNDREDS OF HECTARES OF WOODLAND H and species-rich grasslands have been saved from the axe as a result of the decision to scrap the northern phase of the high-speed rail link HS2. Conservationists said 190ha of woodland, including nearly 15ha of ancient woodland, plus hundreds of ponds and thousands of individual hedgerows, had been threatened with destruction from Phases 2a and 2b.

But Phase 1 between London and Birmingham will still wreak significant environmental damage, according to The Wildlife Trusts, which called for "better and more effective mitigation to make amends for the magnitude" of the impacts.