A planning application has been submitted to North Northamptonshire Council by Buccleuch Property Ltd which proposes the destruction of Weekley Hall Wood's wildflower meadow to the north of Kettering for the speculative development of warehouses.

Please visit www.saveweekleyhallwood.com for more information.

If approved, development will result in the loss of a sizeable wildflower meadow, and several popular walking, running and cycling routes. This site is important from a human perspective as it provides easy access to a woodland and grassland site that borders the town. It is essential for residents' mental and physical wellbeing, and the loss of this community asset will have a grave impact on local access to wildlife and the outdoors.

We have grave concerns about the scale of species loss due to eradication of grassland habitat that will occur if the planning application is approved by the new North Northamptonshire Council, such as UK Biodiversity Action Plan species known to have colonised the site, such as the grizzled and dingy skipper butterflies.

Following submission of the original planning application in March 2020, the Save Weekley Hall Wood campaign team formed and has since had great success in publicising the threat to the woodland and wildflower meadow.

We have had several articles published in the Northants Telegraph, including:

7th Apr 2020: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/fury-woods-earmarked-chop-make-way-kettering-warehouse-park-2529080

14th May 2020: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/thousands-say-no-kettering-warehouse-development-which-will-destroy-woods-2851485

18th May 2021: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/campaign-to-save-under-threat-kettering-wood-hits-another-milestone-3240796

Campaign team member Dez Dell was interviewed on BBC Radio Northampton (5th May 2020): https://youtu.be/MqpI1bFIu2A

The campaign has been featured in Logistics Manager magazine (19th May 2020): https://www.logisticsmanager.com/thousands-say-no-to-east-midlands-warehouse-development/

Rothwell Town Councillor, Ash Davies, quit his role on the planning committee to oppose development of the wood and meadow (3rd Dec 2020):
https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/kettering-councillor-quits-committee-role-oppose-controversial-warehouse-development-3056327

WIRED UK article (23rd Jun 2021): https://www.wired.co.uk/article/warehouses-next-day-delivery?fbclid=IwAR1kSPop_5gD8ge2FzHBMO6K11QnLp4GYTftNCQR6EjkuWU2tu4X1FLMT3k

Northants Telegraph article on the Save Weekley Hall Wood demonstration at Kettering's council offices and deferral of the IM Kelly application (27th Aug 2021): https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/people-power-shines-through-as-kettering-warehouse-plan-decision-put-on-hold-3361968 

And a BBC News report on the same event (27th Aug 2021): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58356592 

'More than 100 join walk to show their love for Kettering wood' (28th Sep 2021): https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/more-than-100-join-walk-to-show-their-love-for-kettering-wood-3399360

'Hundreds show their love for Kettering wood at 'magical' winter festival' (14th Dec 2021): https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/hundreds-show-their-love-for-kettering-wood-at-magical-winter-festival-3493754?fbclid=IwAR1C-Mkz33L7cjbHcVvhKkiy9vKr4aM8PrAXXb_KwxmSickcN4sm6UnnstM 

We sincerely hope that you can add your voice to the chorus for the benefit of local wildlife and general public alike. Thank you so much for any support you can offer!

#SaveWeekleyHallWood