Local artists draw attention to the "Bonnie Prince Charlie" Derby Veteran Oak threatened by A38 road expansion

Saturday 6 Jan 2024

In a collective effort to draw attention to the threatened 300-year-old oak tree, local residents, led by professional Derbyshire artist Dianna Green[1], have gathered to draw attention to what the proposed A38 road expansion will destroy[2].

The ancient oak, situated on the Bonnie Prince Charlie walk—a path traced by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his troops in 1745 [3]—is at risk due to the impending road expansion. This historically significant tree would have been a sapling when the Prince and his troops passed through.

On Saturday, artists congregated at the threatened tree to use art to highlight the need to protect our local area’s nature and history.

The Stop the A38 Expansion Campaign[4], backed by a legal challenge recently granted permission by the high court to proceed to trial, has garnered substantial support, raising over £30,000 through crowdfunding efforts[5]. This is the second legal challenge after a successful first challenge in 2021 when the then transport minister Grant Shapps admitted he approved the scheme unlawfully by failing to properly consider how the increase in carbon emissions would impact on efforts to tackle climate change. In August 2023 the scheme was approved again by the latest transport minister, Mark Harper.

The controversial A38 road scheme entails expanding the road from four to six lanes at the Little Eaton, Markeaton, and Kingsway junctions, incorporating flyovers and underpasses. While the primary objective is to alleviate congestion and improve travel times between Birmingham, Derby, and the M1, it has sparked debate over its negative environmental impacts.

National Highways own planning documents show the scheme will increase carbon emissions both through construction and increased traffic.[6] Planning documents also show 11.38 hectares of trees to be cut down with only 6.40 hectares of saplings replacing them.[7] Saplings also require maintenance to survive. Over half a million saplings planted by National Highways as mitigation for the A14 Cambridge road scheme died.[8]   

The scheme threatens the removal of a veteran oak tree and numerous centuries-old trees in and around Markeaton Park. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has expressed concerns regarding the scheme's ecological assessment[9] and the potential loss of the A38 Kingsway Roundabout Local Wildlife Site.[10]

Tricia Howlett, a local educator who organised the community painting event, emphasised its purpose in "raising awareness about the A38 expansion's destruction of thousands of trees, wildlife habitats, houses, as well as encroaching on land in Markeaton and Mackworth parks and contributing to increased carbon emissions and noise pollution.

These trees can’t simply be replanted - saplings will take decades and even centuries to offer the same homes to wildlife, carbon storage, flood defence, screening and shade that these threatened mature trees give. We should be protecting existing trees as well as planting new ones. ”

Derbyshire-based artist Diana Green echoed these sentiments, stating, "As an artist whose work centres around our majestic trees, I am pleased to support this event. Our established trees are miniature ecosystems that support diverse species, and it is our responsibility to preserve and care for them rather than indiscriminately chopping them down for our convenience."

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Photos of the event on 6 Jan 2024: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7r3wmi2gdwi2dgexdfo1j/h?rlkey=z7hnw5xihia0it2xrc5b6lwn1&dl=0

 About the Stop the A38 Campaign:  The Stop the A38 campaign is run a group of concerned local residents who want to stop the carbon-emitting, polluting, nature-destroying A38 Derby Junctions road scheme

 Legal challenge: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-the-a38-road-expansion-for-good/

 Website: https://www.a38derbychaos.org/

 Press contact: SavetheA38trees@protonmail.com

Footnotes

[1] https://www.dianagreenart.com/

[2] A38 scheme and planning documents on National Infrastructure Planning website https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/east-midlands/a38-derby-junctions/?ipcsection=overview

[3] https://www.derbyramblers.org.uk/routes/walking-routes/26-bonnie-prince-charlie-walk.html

[4] https://www.a38derbychaos.org/  

[5] https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-the-a38-road-expansion-for-good/

[6] The scheme will increase carbon emissions. The construction alone is 131,000 tons of CO2. Then the induced traffic from the extra road capacity will increase CO2 emissions further. The numbers in National Highways own planning documents state this on page 24 of the environmental statement: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/TR010022/TR010022-000456-TR010022_A38_6.1_Environmental_Statement_Chapter_14.pdf

[7] National Highways planning documents show a net-loss of trees: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/TR010022/TR010022-001217-6.1%20ES%20-%20Chapter%208(a)%20-%20Biodiversity%20(Confidential%20Content%20Removed)%20(clean).pdf

[8] https://news.sky.com/story/half-a-million-trees-have-died-next-to-one-21-mile-stretch-of-road-national-highways-admits-12836768

[9] Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s concerns over the A38 scheme’s impact on wildlife and biodiversity: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/TR010022/TR010022-001217-6.1%20ES%20-%20Chapter%208(a)%20-%20Biodiversity%20(Confidential%20Content%20Removed)%20(clean).pdf

[10] National Highways biodiversity statement: shttps://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/TR010022/TR010022-001217-6.1%20ES%20-%20Chapter%208(a)%20-%20Biodiversity%20(Confidential%20Content%20Removed)%20(clean).pdf