You might have been wondering what the Leather Lane Conservation Group (LLCG) has been doing for the past year or more; now all can be revealed!
Towards the end of 2023, the HS2 contractor for Leather Lane (EKFB) was replaced by Align, which started a new era of constructive engagement. Finally, HS2 accepted the evidence of bat ecology that the LLCG had provided over the previous 3 years and it became clear that a fresh start needed to be made on the design. See the following from Align’s Schedule 17 application, put to Bucks Council last week.
“2.1.12 The mature trees lining Leather Lane are the most important ecological feature in the application area. They provide connectivity across the landscape and surveys have shown these to be an important feature for foraging/commuting bats. The lane is used by a diverse assemblage of bats (at least nine species) with the rare barbastelle bat being regularly recorded.”
To this end, we engaged with Align, and Bucks councillors through a series of meetings during 2024 and 2025, at which the need to preserve the bat commuting corridor was fully agreed. The LLCG also insisted that mitigation for the fragmented bat corridor was provided during construction and for the oak trees, in the form of a root protection zone.
The LLCG had previously campaigned for the new over-road design for Leather Lane to be a green crossing for all wildlife (an idea that had previously been rejected by HS2) and this too was taken on board by Align at the meetings. A summary of our engagement was included in the Schedule 17 application by Align.
“1.1.4 Throughout the development of design, Align and HS2 have actively engaged with the stakeholder group made up of the Leather Lane Action Group [LLCG], Buckinghamshire Council, Chiltern National Landscape, and several other stakeholders including local and parish councillors. We have consistently communicated that the proposals will be iterative and had [sic] a focus on maximising tree retention which includes protecting the lone Oak (Ilona), whilst providing a safe highway design and creating a sunken (Holloway) character, which complements the rest of the historic lane and protected National Landscape.”
However, our attendance at these meetings was conditional upon the LLCG keeping the proposals confidential and although no agreement was signed it was clearly in our best interest to retain the trust of Align, and some influence on the design process. This necessitated our uncharacteristic silence for the past year.
The Design
The Align schedule 17 application for Leather Lane, with plans, can be found here. The most obvious improvement is that a green bridge (or short tunnel) with a width of 25m will be constructed, with planting on the bridge to provide flight lines for bats and connectivity for all wildlife. This is the only green bridge in the Chilterns National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), and the only wildlife friendly crossing between the South Heath portal and the Wendover viaduct.
The new design will result in a lower profile for the track crossing, and as a result of our lobbying for higher and better planting for the wildlife corridor the visual impact will be much greener and better integrated into the landscape. This represents a vast improvement on the hybrid bill design for local residents.
The LLCG are satisfied that Align gave respectful consideration to the LLCG’s design proposal for the new road and bridge to be constructed on the north side of the lane. However, the new lane will still be to the south side of the existing lane, due to constraints imposed by the drainage requirements and the position of an auto-transformer on the north side of the old lane. As a result of committed work by the Align design team, and lobbying by LLCG, only two more category A oaks were lost as a result, although some others will be pollarded to ensure their survival. On this occasion the LLCG are satisfied that Align have, on behalf of HS2, adhered to the mitigation hierarchy principles set out in the Environmental Statement.
The LLCG has also been given the wood from the last two oaks felled by Align, for use by the local community.
The oaks were planted by Arthur Lazenby, the founder of the famous Liberty department store in the late 1800s. Fourteen were felled in 2021, at the track trace and the haul road, and following the felling of two more in 2025, in total 16 oak trees have been lost. As the hybrid bill design would have caused the loss of 100 trees, mostly oaks, this is another major improvement.
The LLCG and the local community are delighted that their hard work campaigning to save ‘Ilona’, the lone hedgerow oak near Hammonds Hall Farm, was a success. Thanks to some modification to the position of sound barriers Ilona and her ancient hedgerow will remain. We were pleased that our registration of Ilona on the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory was recognised by Align.
The LLCG would like to place on record our appreciation of the work of the Align team, in mitigating the effects of construction on the lane.
The Bats
Significant bat activity has been recorded by the LLCG (including the rare and endangered barbastelle) since 2021, and we will continue to monitor the situation this year. We have observed bats using the lane during our regular bat walks for the past 3 years. At the request of the LLCG and acknowledging the importance of maintaining connectivity during the ‘bat season’, the Align ecology team have provided temporary mitigation across the track trace during construction.
The ‘brash’ (dead branches) which spanned the gap at the trace has been removed (to prevent birds nesting) and replaced by fencing covered with netting. There is little research available on creating a successful temporary bat flight path, and we hope to make some assessment of the effectiveness of this arrangement.
Future Plans
As well as engaging with Align and HS2, the LLCG has now registered as a charity (number 1212850). One of our objectives is to establish a conservation area, particularly for bats, encompassing the new and old lanes, and the remaining trees, to ensure that the wildlife crossing continues to function effectively. This is a major undertaking for a small group, and will need additional trustees, and finance. Ownership and maintenance of the site are two key areas of focus.
Site Plan – from DPL-CS03_CL05-741001
The conservation area might include the gap between the new and old lanes, which would contain many of the oaks, and the dark green areas to the south west of the line. The “Copse” (an old chalk pit) beside the old lane might also become available, although it is outside the HS2 act limits.The future of this area is a test case for the treatment of similar sites which are no longer suitable for the original agricultural purposes, but will need long term management.
We would like to thank all of you for your past support, without which we could not have persuaded HS2 of the importance of the Lane and its bats. We hope this will continue, while we ensure these gains are protected once construction is completed.
Please donate HERE