Archived press release

Nature chief gets vote of no confidence over thorne and hatfield moors

6 October 1997

Dr Derek Langslow, Chief Executive of Government wildlife watchdog English Nature, faced a barrage of protest from 400 local people on Friday night (3/10/97) when he told a Public Meeting why he wanted to remove wildlife protection from large areas of Thorne and Hatfield Moors, near Doncaster. A vote of “no confidence in English Nature over this issue”was unanimously carried. Today (Monday 6 October) is the final day of English Nature's consultation period over the fate of Thorne and Hatfield Moor.

The meeting, organised by Friends of the Earth and Thorne and Hatfield Town Councils,was called because of the widespread and intense opposition to English Nature's proposals. Thorne and Hatfield Moors are Britain's largest lowland raised peat bog and are of national and international importance. Despite a 'deal' between English Nature and the peat cutters in 1992 (with Fisons, now operating as Levingtons), large areas are still being damaged by peat extraction.

The science, legality and necessity of stripping off the wildlife designation of Sites of Special Scientific Interest was challenged and questioned by local naturalists and representatives of national conservation bodies. A former senior peatland specialist for the Government, Richard Lindsay, who wrote the guidelines for protecting peatbogs said that English Nature's science was unsound, flawed and their proposal was potentially illegal.

The meeting also learnt that on large areas of the Moors the peat cutters still retained mineral rights, meaning that applications might come forward to dig out the sand and gravel underlying the peat, ending any likelihood of returning those part of the sites to a peatland habitat.

The audience called for a vote of 'No Confidence in English Nature on this issue', which was carried unanimously. The only abstention came from two people who wanted an unqualified vote of no confidence in English Nature generally.

Friends of the Earth campaigner, Robin Maynard said:
“English Nature made a secret, squalid deal with the peat extractors that has failed to protect the Moors as they claimed it would. Otherwise why are they proposing to strip off

protection as well as peat from these key sites? This was something at the time of the deal they said they'd never do.

“Friends of the Earth has instructed its lawyers to investigate legal redress if they go ahead with this shameful proposal. We are also investigating with local people how we might get the Moors out of the hands of the compromisers and under the full-protection of those who really want to see a long-term sustainable future for these sites.

“Times have changed, dodgy deals behind the closed doors of unelected Quangos are no longer acceptable. English Nature had better change its spots or it and its Chief Executive may find themselves an endangered species.”

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust