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ACCESS wrote in 2015 regarding Little Oak Plantation
This has included the research, submission and approval of both a Local Wildlife Site (LWS) status to Little Oak Plantation, with the addition of a total "Tree Preservation Order"( TPO) and "Replanted Ancient Woodland" (PAWS) with regular inspections taking place recording both mammal and wild plants present.
We are currently pushing for the recognition of the footpaths through this wood, which have been used by members of the public for over 50 years.
Well a lot has changed since then 10/11/2015 , some which was printed on the old website, some which was not. So it's time for a full update!
Introduction:-
It is true to say, that we all took the wood for granted. It had existed in our time, our Fathers time and even Grandfathers, all had enjoyed it even when it was surrounded by fields - long before the building of the Sherwood Business Park in the early 90's.
In 1999, the first worrying signs of impending pressure on the wood, came when Taylor Wimpey applied to build 99 houses behind Forest Road, accessing the site through the old Forest Road allotments. The local residents set up a group then called the "Friends of Forest Road" and successfully fought off 2 planning applications and the threat of an appeal. One of the major stumbling blocks was the ability to provide a successful top water drainage solution. Unexpectedly, in 2002, came another planning application in 2 parts - one for the residential development on the field and allotments and another for the top water surface drainage solution to be sited in Little Oak Wood. Since this affected more than Forest Road residents, it was decided that a new organisation would be formed, called ACCESS, which received the support of all concerned.
Further examination of this application showed that between the early 2000's and 2010, Taylor Wimpey had bartered with Chaworth Musters Estates, convinced them to get the Forestry Commission to return the 999 year lease back to Chaworth Musters, who then sold the wood to Taylor Wimpey. Their plans included the creation of a 100m by 100m, by 2m deep soak-away, which would have necessitated the loss of many trees and upset the ecological and biological balance which had existed over centuries not just since 1949 as Taylor Wimpey were claiming.
Examination of the application gave details of several test infiltration holes they had dug, which when examined, saw poor water infiltration rates into the soil. Additionally, where these test holes where dug, the foundation of nearby trees was so weakened, that several more fell over through what is termed “wind-fall”. Mr John Washbrook and I, both undertook SUDS calculations – which the developer did not submit – but which proved after a major rain, the soak away would not have half-emptied in 1 day as required but in fact it would take 29 days.
With Taylor Wimpey leaving the fallen trees and the rubbish bags (which were never removed) and this threat of losing the wood through tree loss and water logging – all hands went to the pumps to prove that the wood was worth saving for future generations to enjoy. Indeed the developers came back with 2 more further proposals for underground tanks and pipework, which again we proved wouldn’t have worked and would still have left the wood under threat.
So how could we prove the wood was worth saving: there were several avenues which we had to explore/follow:
Prevent any destruction of the wood while we established:
- That the wood was ancient and not just planted from 1949 as Taylor Wimpey were claiming;
- Carry out an inventory of flora and fauna of the wood to aid in our submission for Ancient woodland. Ancient Woodland is termed such, because it is “ancient” and contains many plants which will not be found elsewhere taking centuries to become established.
- Prove that the wood was regularly used, a public asset and not private as claimed by Taylor Wimpey. A way of doing this was to ensure that we could claim the footpaths had been used for generations.
Preventing further destruction of the wood.
We sought information from the Ashfield District Council, Notts County Council and Notts City Tree Officers, Shlomo Dowen, Natural England, Kaye Brennan of the Woodland Trust, who assisted, pointed us in the right direction and provided much welcome support. Whilst Anne Chalkley and I were to some extent – pacing the wood over many months to find the different species of plant, Bob Collier was organising a petition to get the wood protected under a Tree Protection Order. This necessitated Bob along with Anne Chalkley visiting many elderly residents, some in nursing homes, to get statements that they had walked the wood prior to 1949, thus establishing prior use. ACCESS wrote expressing the community's concerns, and later with Bob’s enthusiasm and ADC approval, a proposal went before ADC and was approved by the council . TPO 283 gave protection over the whole wood, in that if any work needed to be done, it had to be approved by ADC. This work, because people had walked these paths over countless years, led to the 2nd phase of the work – Ancient Woodland status for the wood. This comprised of 2 parts, proving the antiquity of the wood and also that sufficient old woodland plants still existed.
Age of the wood
After visiting and browsing University records, Anne and I managed, together with Mrs Pearson’s help, to find information on maps, to which we found:
Eyres Tapestry Map – commissioned in 1632, based on Saxton map of 1576 and Speeds map of 1616, but lacking in detail;
Chapman map of 1774 , clearly showing the wood in its current position;
Sanderson Map of 1835 plus more modern maps, showing that the site had been continually wooded in all that time. This, with the supporting flora and fauna information, was sent to Natural England, who admitted to not including the wood in previous surveys they had undertaken, they have now accepted all our evidence, especially the plants therein (see next section) and placed the Wood on the National Register. (MAGIC) as being Ancient Woodland (LWS) and PAWS ( Plantations on Ancient Woodland) - add links
Flora and Fauna
Based on guidance and information from Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre (NBGRC), regarding LWS site status, we - Anne Chalkley and I - spent hours walking through the wood on a regular basis, over a period of about 4 months, photographing, recording locations, which where then verified by the NBGRC. The expertise and knowledge of the persons at NBGRC was unbelievable and I urge anyone interested in nature to visit their website and examine their on-line material. We provide below:
photographs of some of the plants
Here is our letter to Natural England
(Please note that my email address is now This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. rather than This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as shown in the letter, should anyone wish to contact me directly about this or require any help in a similar situation)
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANNESLEY - Compiled by Bob Collier Vice Chair ACCESS
The district of Annesley in Nottinghamshire is situated about 8 miles to the North West of the City of Nottingham, quite close to the county's border with Derbyshire. The M1 motorway runs through the Annesley Estate. Annesley has evolved over the centuries in three different stages.
Stage 1 -
First references relating to Annesley can be found in the Domesday Book (1066) when it refers to Aneslei which changed to Ansley and finally to Annesley during the reign of King Henry II (1154 – 1188).
Annesley Castle (now totally demolished) was built in 1194 on the orders of Prince John, King Richard the Lionhearts brother. The boundary of Sherwood Forest had been moved 2 miles to the West of Newstead on what is now the A611. This motte and bailey castle was built on the boundary of Sherwood Forest strategically placed to protect the Forests deer and game from poachers. Local legend also relates to Robin Hood being a local resident and member of the De'Annesley family who lived at Annesley Hall. This theory about Robin Hood being a local Annesley resident can be found in the book "Hills of Annesley" by Frank Lyons 1975.
The original village of Aneslei was a small irregular built village in a picturesque location to the South of Annesley Hall. The old Annesley Village was completely demolished by 1850. At this time most people worked on the land for the two local landowners, the Chaworth Musters family and the Duke of Portland. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution all this changed.
Stage 2 -
Annesley Woodhouse had started to be developed by 1800 and the demolition of the old Annesley Village in 1850 marked the start of a new building programme and the expansion of Annesley Woodhouse. The 1851 census of Annesley Woodhouse shows there were 36 dwellings recorded, 8 of these were on Skegby Road, 1 included the Forest Tavern Public House. The remainder were on Salmon Lane including the Free School now Sycamore House, which was built in 1847. At this time the local Framework-knitters were now the main employer. The local Framesmith's workshop can still be found on Salmon Lane. The local Framesmith's shop, is one of the many Local Heritage sites which ACCESS submitted to ADC and which were approved. Further details of these may be found here.
The Midland Railway Company opened their branch line from Nottingham to Mansfield in 1849, the nearest station would have been Newstead which didn't open until 1863.
Stage 3 -
The Annesley Colliery Company started the third stage of building at Annesley by opening Annesley Colliery in 1865. The Company used the Midland Railway to transport its coal. After the opening of the Colliery the Annesley Colliery Company built New Annesley, locally called Annesley Rows, comprising of 2 rows of 80 miners cottages, completed in 1873. New Annesley did not get its own station until July 1874.
The people of New Annesley lost their Railway Station on the 6th April 1953 never to be re-opened.
The demise of the local Coal Industry led to the opening of the Sherwood Business Park in the 1970's. Annesley Colliery was merged with Newstead and Bentinck Collieries in 1985. Newstead Colliery closed in 1987 and the combined Annesley/Bentinck Colliery finally closed in 2000.
Annesley Woodhouse and New Annesley although linked are two separate communities. New Annesley is in Annesley and Felley Parish and Annesley Woodhouse is in Ashfield. Both have their own identities. Looking over both communities is Annesley All Saints Church built in 1872 to 1874.
Annesley Miners Welfare was built on land between the two communities in 1920, with a dance hall added in 1932. A bowling green and tennis courts were on site with a football field, cricket pitch and pavilion, these are now all lost. Where the tennis courts and bowling green were there is now a small housing development, the football and cricket pitch were all derelict, overgrown and unused (not surprisingly) and the Miners Welfare closed. We argued that the Miners Welfare could have been turned into a first class doctors surgery, providing enhanced services for Annesley Woodhouse; Annesley and Newstead local residents, but this didn't happen as nor did the promised surgery for the Newstead residential development.
The sports areas has now become another housing development, so much for progress!
Looking back, the General Havelock Public House on Skegby Road, Annesley Woodhouse closed in 2013 after operating as a local pub for approximately 150 years. It was replaced by building of a Co-op convenience store.
The map above show what open green space is left is squeezed between the Sherwood Business Park and the housing on and to the north of Forest Road (where text "Map of 2008 is situated). ACCESS's investigation, submission and formal recognition of Little Oak Plantation as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) and Replanted Ancient Woodland (PAWS) - has ensured that a vital green corridor to allow wildlife movement from East to West and a buffer from Sherwood Business noise remains for future generations to enjoy (hopefully). The efforts of all concerned are recognised on the Woodland Trust site click here
Since 2014, the Annesley area has also benefited by a further area being recognised for their outstanding ecological and biological richness - Forest Road Grass land - as a neutral grass land Local Wildlife Site and also as an area for breeding grass snakes.
The Sherwood Business Park has expanded over the years and now includes light industry etc. It is now the largest employers in the area.
Further details of the Local Sites of Ecological and biological importance can be found with "Nature Around Annesley" (to be developed)
Updated 18/02/2021
The majority of above facts are extracted from the book "Annesley Through the Ages" by Denis Pearson 1995. Maps are extracted from Nottingham Insight Mapping.