Purchase of site approved for community woodland

A council intends to buy 11 acres of land with plans to create a community woodland.

North Devon Council's strategy and resources committee approved the purchase of the land in Ilfracombe's Slade Valley after learning on Monday, funding was available.

The council's property team had secured a price of £140,000, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), and the Forestry Commission would need to approve the application for a community woodland.

The North Devon Coast National Landscape has offered half the purchase price up to £82,500 and the remaining money will come from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, a government grant available until the end of this month.

Located to the rear of a social housing estate on Slade Valley Road, the land would be made fully accessible to the public and include a picnic area, according to the LDRS.

A bridleway running along the eastern boundary of the site would be the basis for disabled access.

Both the council's parks and national landscape teams would be involved in the design of the new woodland.

If the Forestry Commission accepts the application, the council could unlock £80,000 for the site, including £24,000 of maintenance payments over 15 years, the LDRS reports.

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