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Here you will find information about the village, news about local events and links to local attractions. We hope that you find what you want. If not, please contact one of the Parish Councillors listed in the contact page.
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NEWS
Westacre Estate's proposals for a woodland creation project delayed
Westacre Estate's proposal for 77 hectares of new woodland planting which is being designed and developed through the Forestry Commission planning grant process is understood to have been postponed until 2022.
The plantation will contain around 75% Paulownia, a fast-growing hardwood originating from Asia, planted at a low density with staggered harvesting of half the plantation every 5 years.
The remaining 25% of the planting areas will be made up of a combination of open space and native tree species intended to mimic existing local woodlands. This aspect of the project won’t be harvested and will instead be dedicated to maximising environmental benefit, buffering non-native species from important viewpoints and protecting important historic features including existing field boundaries and hedgerows.
Grasses, clovers and wildflowers will be planted across the whole area to encourage a wide range of insects, butterflies and bees
The planting areas replace intensively farmed crops with associated agrochemical inputs. These crops having been grown as a monoculture with very little diversity being allowed to flourish. This is generally reflected through declining soil health, low invertebrate levels (particularly insects), seed and pollination sources and associated farmland fauna and flora.
The project will create new habitats including open areas and native woodland. A key aim is to establish a diverse flora that delivers food sources to insects and birds. Mixes will include: Birdsfoot trefoil, White clover, Alsike clover, Knapweed, Kidney vetch, Timothy (low percentage for tussock formation), Slender Red fescue, Smooth stalked meadow grass. Twenty-five existing ponds will be enhanced through the first phase of this project. Where possible, new scrubby habitats (hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, dogwood, privet, field maple) will be created to enhance existing features and target specific species.
The cutting of grasses will not be done during nesting periods while differential cutting will allow continuous flowering throughout the season. The intention is not to use pesticides after the trees are planted.
Bats will be encouraged by erecting bat boxes as the woodlands develop, these will target feeding rides within the plantations and linking with mature established trees and woodland.
Bird life will also be encouraged through the project, providing significant additional and new feed sources and habitat. This will encourage a range of woodland birds including tits, warblers, nuthatch, woodpeckers, thrushes, little owl and woodland edge/farmland birds including barn owl, pipits, grey partridge, yellow hammer, corn bunting and lesser redpoll. New native woodland may attract woodlark, spotted flycatcher and barn owls, which will be encouraged through the provision of appropriate nest boxes.
You will find a list of detailed proposals below, with a link to the full document.
The detailed proposals have been prepared by
Brown & Co.,
The Fairways,
Wyboston Lakes,
Great North Road,
Wyboston
Bedfordshire MK44 3AL
At this stage Brown & Co., Westacre Estate, and the Parish Council welcome feedback from a range of interested parties, including local residents.
To allow you to make an informed response to the project, we are providing you with supporting information and reports covering biodiversity, water use, and sterility on non-native species.
Enquiries and responses can be submitted via the
Westacre Estate - 01760 755254 or by email to henry@westacre-estate.co.uk
West Acre Parish Council - Eoghan Shiels 07815 202288 or by email to westacreparish@gmail.com
or
Brown & Co., william.higgins@brown-co.com
The Fairways, Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AL
Responses should be sent by Monday 1st February
Click on a link below to view or download the full document
Woodland Creation Project - Covering Document
Site Context Map
Design Plan Block 1 Design Plan Block 2
Native Woodland Species Mix and Planting Design
Paulownia Phoenix One images
Woodland Creation and Biodiversity Gain
Phoenix One Sterility and Invasiveness Summary
The NRN will be a national network of wildlife-rich places. The aim is to expand, improve and connect these places across our towns, cities and countryside.
Westacre Estate rewinding project at West Acre is part of the National Recovery Network.
You will find a short video explaining Natural England's ambitious plans on this link -
https://youtu.be/YisxnvmPKOk
NEWS
Westacre Estate and Natural England partnership to restore nature in England
Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England. They help to protect and restore our natural world.
Natural England is an non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
Defra and Natural England are bringing together partners, legislation and funding, to create the Nature Recovery Network (NRN). Together, they will deliver the Network by restoring and enhancing England’s wildlife-rich places.
NEWS
Damage to memorial poppies
In the last two years a number of the poppies in the memorial garden have been damaged, possibly due to people playing ball games.
Most, such as the one above, have been repairable. But some have been damaged beyond repair.
The poppies are made from ceramic and are unique. They cannot be replaced.
We ask all children and adults to take care when playing on the village green.
Thank you.
NEWS
If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise...
Well, a big surprise but you will have to look carefully. If you do, you will find that there has been an influx of fairies who have recently set up home in West Acre woods.
Attempts to find a representative of the community to speak to have, so far, proved fruitless. Even at the pub, which displayed an ‘open’ sign (contrary to the government advice on Covid-19), it was impossible to find anyone to give an interview.
The parish council is investigating whether the appropriate planning consent has been given for the construction of the properties. A spokesperson for the Westacre Estate said they had “no comment” to make on the development.
The government advice is to respect social distancing if you happen to meet one of the inhabitants.
“Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and...”
Click on an image to see a larger version
Author Jeremy Cameron transforms his garage into a West Acre library. Picture: Sonya Duncan
A self-confessed book addict from west Norfolk has taken his passion for paperbacks to house his plethora of novels inside a converted double garage.
Seventy-three-year-old author Jeremy Cameron, of Greenhill Road, West Acre, has been an avid reader his entire life, dipping in and out of the family bookshelves since he was a boy.
Twelve years ago, he moved back to his home town and brought with him a huge collection inherited from his grandfather, parents, sisters, and his own collection totalling more than a thousand books.
The retired probation officer said: “The thought of throwing away a book is just appalling.
“I decided that my books ought to work and the public should be able to use them and enjoy them. “My double garage was therefore converted by John Bolderstone, a highly skilled carpenter, into a library. It has carpets, comfortable chairs, and a heater.
“It is a quiet spot where anyone can sit and read or take books away.”
NEWS
Reading addict with 1,000 books converts his garage into public library
Donna-Louise Bishop
The library, which is available to everyone in the village and further afield, is always open.
The impressive collection has been put in alphabetical order on bookshelves and there is something for almost every taste.
A few people regularly visit but Mr Cameron has also delivered books in the area to people who have requested them.
He added: “I have many old books inherited from my grandfather who died in 1918. Apparently he said he was going to read them all some time but the 1918 flu epidemic took him away.
“Since 1956, I have kept a list of all the books I have read. It averages about a book per week.”
Mr Cameron estimated he had read around 3,000 during his lifetime, one of his favourite series being The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
“Longer books I have read include War and Peace, A Suitable Boy, and This Thing of Darkness - the only books which I think justify extreme length. All of them would be twice as good if they were half as long.
“Books should all be funny from time to time and War and Peace would be better with a few jokes.”
Mr Cameron is also a published writer and has written a number of novels including five crime novels based in Walthamstow, London, a young adult novel, travel memoirs, and two self-published books about tennis in Norfolk
Anyone interested in visiting the library can contact Mr Cameron by emailing
jeremycameron@hotmail.co.uk
We are very grateful to Archant for allowing us to
reproduce this article originally published in the Eastern Daily Press on 4th November 2020. All photographs courtesy of Sonya Duncan
Gordon Parnell, an enthusiastic and regular visitor is one of the most widely read people in the area. He says "The library is extremely convenient and has a wide variety of books.” West Acre resident Louisa Sliwa also added "It’s a fantastic local resource full of interesting books and really easy to use."
The Parish Council's response to Westacre Estate's proposals
At their Meeting held on Monday 25 January, West Acre Parish Council Estate considered the Estate’s proposals and have produced a written response which will be submitted to Brown & Co. The full text of the PC’s response can be found by clicking on the link at the end of this article.
The Parish Council broadly welcomes the proposals, but is seeking reassurance on some matters, including the possible destination of the harvested timber and the need for a robust traffic management plan for vehicles visiting the two sites.
The proposals have been submitted to the Forestry Commission as part of the grant application process. If this part of the process is successful there will be a statutory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during which you will be able to submit your views on the proposals.
If you prefer not to wait for the EIA but to make your views known early you can do so by submitting them in writing, by phone or by email to one of the following;
West Acre Parish Council
Eoghan Shiels, Dair, Church Green, West Acre
07815 202288 or by email to westacreparish@gmail.com
Westacre Estate
Henry Birkbeck, Westacre Estate, Church Green, West Acre
01760 755254 or by email to
henry@westacre-estate.co.uk
Brown & Co., c/o William Higgins
The Fairways, Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AL, or by email to
william.higgins@brown-co.com
Click here to read the full text of West Acre Parish's response to the proposals
