The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, has been ‘inundated’ with requests for the Woolsington applications to be called in. If the plans are called in, an inspector will be required to carry out an inquiry into the proposals and examine how the local authority has dealt with the applications. We are very grateful to those who have already written to voice their concerns and would like to encourage supporters to write to the Secretary of State if they have not already done so. The email address is greg.clark@communities.gsi.gov.uk We still need all the support we can get during this intense waiting period. Environmental and political activist George Monbiot has already supported our campaign. Now it has the backing of another prominent figure in conservation. Mark Avery, who was the RSPB’s conservation director for 13 years, signed the petition and wrote ‘We need to keep a space for nature. It's important in our lives.’ He also retweeted the petition to over 21,000 followers. Mark is an expert campaigner so it’s great to have his support. Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has now written to the Chief Executive of Historic England to request an investigation into the issues relating to their North-East office and the controversial enabling development which will involve the destruction of acres of mature woodland that makes up a vital wildlife corridor in the city's green belt. We are awaiting their response. The petition is creeping ever closer to the 10,000 mark but still needs 574 more signatures. With your support, we are determined to achieve this goal and speak out for one of Newcastle’s last areas of mature woodland and the hundreds of species that depend on it.