A £4bn expressway road has been proposed to link Oxford with Cambridge, eventually leading to a million new homes built around the road. The proposal, announced on 12 September, could damage 20 nature reserves and 51 other protected natural sites, including ancient woodlands, meadows rich in rare flowers, water meadows and exceptionally rare fenland.
The increased traffic and pollution also threatens highly sensitive areas nearby, such as Wytham Woods just outside Oxford. The woodland is owned by Oxford University and has been studied continuously for 75 years, possibly the longest study of woodland in the world, and now invaluable for assessing the impact of climate change. The site has more than 500 species of plant, including herb paris (Paris quadrifolia), stinking iris (Iris foetidissima) and wood dog violet (Viola reichenbachiana) growing in ancient woodland.
The exact route of the expressway has not been decided, but many other outstanding natural areas are under threat, including Bernwood, a former royal hunting forest, Rushmere country park and ancient woodlands near Calvert in Buckinghamshire. The plans for the route remain unclear, though the area around Oxford is a mosaic of prized woodlands, species-rich grassland and open water. Environmentalists are outraged and this has all the makings of a long battle.
