Westbrook Woodland is an important strip of woodland that follows the West Brook along the south-west edge of Weston, bordering the Bath & Bristol Green Belt and open countryside out towards Kelston Roundhill. It has been identified as having strong ecological and community value by residents and has been used as an informal play area by local children, running adjacent to the Weston All Saints Primary School.
Find out more on the Friends of the Orchard website.
2021 – Application for Town or Village Green Status
In 2021, an application to register the woodland as a new Town or Village Green (TVG) unfortunately failed as it was found by the Inspector that the site had not been in use for “lawful sports and pastimes”. The full decision is available to read here. The pre-enquiry report is available to read here.
2018/2019 – Application for Tree Protection Order
In 2018, the woodland changed ownership and there were indications that the new owner was considering development of the site including the erection of fences around the site to restrict public access. Works started to clear trees from the site, in response to which residents launched a call for an emergency blanket Tree Protection Order (TPO) across the whole site. BPT supported residents, arguing that the West Brook had formed a crucial part of the natural landscape character of Weston from the 1700s and remains a source of local visual amenity. The woodland is a well-established feature of the wooded landscape setting of the World Heritage Site.
Read BPT’s written support for the proposed TPO here.
We were therefore thrilled when councillors voted to support the Westbrook Woodland TPO at Development Management Committee, offering some much-needed protection for this pocket of woodland that contributes positively to the setting of the World Heritage Site and Cotswold AONB. A temporary TPO was implemented from November 2018 and was made permanent by April 2019; view the full TPO here.