Yesterday, Tuesday 19th March, Helen John and I worked at felling willows and cutting rushes in the 'Orchid Reserve' NW footpath area at Menwith Hill.   Today, while I was continuing with the work, I was interrupted by MoD Constable Jim Sheehan, Police Officer with responsibility for wildlife in the area. He ordered me to stop work. He stated that c 16 months ago the area had been surveyed by English Nature in conjunction with the Defence Estates' Conservation Office at Aldershot [although he later stated it was at Catterick Garrison]. [Confirm?]

He said that a Management Conservation Plan had been prepared for the area, although he has not yet got a copy of it, but he did state that the area will be divided into four sites with a slightly different treatment for each area.

Implementation of the management plans will be commenced later this year. A forester will be called in tomorrow, 21st March.

It took three agonising, back-breaking afternoons' chopping to force their hand!

Bob Cryer's memorial tree:

Bob Cryer, the MP who consistently campaigned against Menwith Hill and whose last speech in the House of Commons was about the base, was killed in a road accident while returning to Parliament after the Easter Recess, on April 11th, 1994. In June 1994, Ann Cryer, David Bowe, Mike McGowan and members of Yorkshire CND, planted a memorial common alder [Bob's favourite] on the grass verge of the highway east of the Main Gate at Menwith Hill.

In 1997 this tree, along with others planted by the peace movement on other occasions, was ring-barked. The other trees died, but a section of bark was missed at the rear of Bob's tree, where it was still attached to its stake.

The tree was damaged, but survived.

In February this year I enquired of British Telecom engineers why they were excavating the Forest Moor cable which runs along this verge. I was informed that the road was to be widened. I then told them not to damage Bob's tree, but they told me that it was going to be removed for the road widening.

I wrote to John and Ann Cryer, told them that Helen and I had inspected the tree, decided that it is now too big for us to contemplate removing, and suggested that we plant another memorial tree for Bob.

Ann Cryer went to the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon and said that she wanted the tree saving and replanting as near as possible in a safe place.

Today, when I was at the Main Gate, a NYCC Highways' van pulled up and a man got out to inspect the tree. I spoke to him about the moves to save the tree. He said that the whole root-ball was to be dug up and the tree would be re-located at the other end of the excavations. I asked if he knew that the orders were from the Secretary of State for Defence, but he didn't.

Would you write a letter to the North Yorkshire Highways' Department Chief Maintenance Engineer, Mr M A Burns, County Hall, Northallerton, to ask if the widening of Menwith Hill Road has anything to do with developments at the base? I'd just get a dismissive letter, if he bothered to reply at all.

Cheers, Anne.

P.S.

You are aware that felling the willows [which does not kill, but merely prunes them] was one of the recommendations made when he inspected the orchids, by Professor Richard Bateman, Keeper of Botany at the Natural History Museum.

Anne.