Local people making their corner of rural Britain unique
This week
SaturdayÌý7th June Ìý
Repeated Thursday 12th June
Elinor Goodman looks at the pressures on public green spaces in Gloucestershire.
Elinor Goodman takes a walk in some of the open green spaces in Gloucestershire, asking how conservation and preservation organisations balance the needsÌýof people with the needs of plants and animals.
She travels first to just outside Stroud in Gloucestershire. Owned and managed by the National Trust, the areas areÌýtwo of the country's largest examples of limestone grass lands, with theÌýincumbent specialists plants and animals that make it unique. The commons are both SSSI's and much of RodboroughÌýCommon is a scheduled ancient monument. The areas also attract visitors by the thousands. Dave Armstrong, head warden for the Trust in the area, explains to her how the organisation balances people's competing recreation needs with the desire to perserve the ancient space.
Elinor then travels to Pope's Wood, another National Trust property, that is home to some rare orchids. Those orchids are being threatened by the wood's popularity with mountain bike riders. Area warden Tim Jenkins tells her about the wood ramps he's had to dismantle in the woods to put the riders off. She also meets Roger Smith, a mountain bike enthusiast who explains that the sport and woodlands can co-exist if both sides talk with one another.
The picturesque village of Minchinhampton is her next stop to look at need for housing versus the desire to maintain green space. Parish Councillor Charlie Morris tells Elinor about the dilemma facing this and many other villages.Ìý
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