Don't forget the need for green spaces

Still under potential threat, Grade 1 listed Chilton Church and adjacent country walks and ancient parkland

As the population increases towns and villages have to grow, and some economic growth is desirable to satisfy our aspirations for progress and a ‘better life’. However, a headlong dash for economic growth at all costs, ignoring the environment, both built and natural, is a very ill advised approach to planning the future. 

Too often the Government and local planning authorities (who in their current cash strapped position are tempted by financial incentives to deliver growth at all costs) concentrate all their efforts on bricks and concrete to the exclusion of everything else. But with good planning there need to be no conflict between the demands of growth and maintenance of a diverse environment.

We have to see humans as part of a larger natural ecological system, which is necessarily interdependent.  It is very short sighted, and potentially fatal, to simply populate the earth and concrete over green spaces without taking seriously the need to protect other species.  Moreover we need green spaces to exercise and to relax.  We do not want to end up like battery chickens in our little cages aggressively taking out our frustrations on one another, lacking the green spaces that we need to metaphorically ‘scratch about’.

This is why it is good to see that a group is being formed to protect the green fields around Sudbury.  I have posted further details about this on the Suffolk Wildlife Tab above.  The co-ordinator is Nick Miller who lives in Bures.  This initiative is particularly timely due to the fact that the Babergh Local Plan will shortly be up for review.

Nick also produces a useful newsletter on ecological matters and events in the area which is well worth reading and which he will forward to you if you e mail him on nm431010@gmail.com

Could this be us?