Today I visited Hole Farm today as the team behind the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) begins the site’s transformation into a huge new community woodland. I have been campaigning to create a vast green network of woods, cycleways and walking routes from Havering into Essex as compensation for the transport project, which will see a new road and tunnel built under the Thames to ease congestion at Dartford.
The LTC is now investing in Upminster’s Thames Chase Community Forest with plans to build a new bridge connecting Cranham's Moor Lane to Folkes Lane for walkers and cyclists to safely travel over the A127 and enable uninterrupted and easy access to the new community forest at Hole Farm.
When complete, Hole Farm will be a 95-hectare, future community woodland of up to 150 000 trees located in Great Warley, between Brentwood and Harold Wood. An existing bridleway from Havering across the M25 will be improved to allow easy and safe access for Hornchurch & Upminster residents.
I joined the LTC’s Chief Executive, Matt Palmer, along with Brentwood & Ongar MP, Alex Burghart, to get a progress update on Hole Farm’s transformation from private farmland to a natural landscape for all to enjoy. Tree planting has already begun and will be complemented over time by new ponds, wild flower meadows, accessible pathways and bridleways for riders and cyclists.
New areas of planting will be professionally managed by Forestry England to support the growth of high quality habitats including new grassland rides, hedgerows, ditches and ponds, to give local wildlife the best chance to thrive. Meanwhile, a tree nursery, visitor centre and education space will be built on site to allow community volunteers and local school groups to learn about forestry management and environmental sustainability.
Separately, LTC has just awarded its first construction contract to Balfour Beatty, with a focus on social value that will include environmental commitments as well as promises of investment in local skills and jobs as the new road is built. I discussed with Mr Palmer how further to involve schools and colleges in Hornchurch & Upminster in delivering the skills the project needs, and later spoke to Havering Sixth Form College’s Principal about linking the Hole Farm investment to a new A Level about to commence on Environmental Sustainability.
It was great to visit Hole Farm with my friend and parliamentary neighbour, Alex Burghart MP as we seek to maximise the benefit to our constituencies from the Lower Thames Crossing.
Throughout my work on LTC, I have been clear to their team that the project must deliver improvements to the local landscape and, more importantly, access to green spaces for my constituents without the need for a car. With their plans for additional bridges across the A127 - a major obstacle for walkers, horse riders and cyclists - the project supports this ambition and in Hole Farm they are creating a fantastic green haven on the doorstep of our constituency that will be a great place for local families to enjoy.
In years to come, as the planting grows and new habitats develop, I hope that Hole Farm will become a much loved and well-used community woodland that complements Pages Wood, Thames Chase and Franks Wood.
