Protect Adlingfleet Common

Aim

Protect Adlingfleet Common from the mis-use of pesticides. Help fund legal assistance to prevent future spraying.

Adlingfleet Common

Adlingfleet Common is a beautiful place set in the rural village of Adlingfleet in East Yorkshire.  In the height of summer when the grass is long, butterflies flit from flower to flower whilst hares stand upright watching out for foxes and stoats. The buzz of bumblebees harvesting the nectar of the clover rich pasture is interrupted by the calls of hedgerow birds staking claim to their territories. Barn and short-ear owls hunt the margins whilst marsh harriers and buzzards circle above the adjoining fields.

The ancient pond provides the ideal habitat for damsel and dragonflies that dart through the air in an array of multi-colours changing direction with split second timing. Tadpoles seek refuge in the margins as the kingfisher dives for the next unsuspecting minnow.

Adlingfleet Common is 60 acres of refuge that sits, as a drop in the ocean, amongst 1000's of acres of the most intensively “farmed” land in the country and is registered, under the CRoW act, as a public space and also serves as a bridleway.

Adlingfleet Common needs to be protected.

The Spraying of Adlingfleet Common

In June 2014 the Cow Lane Committee, who are responsible for the "care" of Adlingfleet Common, permitted the spraying of a cocktail of pesticides. The derogation to spray was authorised by DEFRA.

The common was sprayed with a total of 90 litres of Lupo and 30 litres of High Load Mircam at a cost of £1090 to the tax payer. Both Lupo and High Load Mircam are not permitted for use in public spaces.

The spraying of these chemicals killed off many species of plants resulting in a major loss of habitat for butterflies and insects, may have resulted in the polluting of the pond and adjoining water courses and put the public at unnecessary risk to pesticide exposure.

The pungent odour of chemicals lingered for over 3 weeks after spraying.

Action to Date

A complaint letter was sent in July 2014 to the local MP Andrew Percy expressing concerns. The Cow Lane Committee responded in September 2014 along with Freedom of Information requests.

A reply to this letter was sent in November 2014 highlighting the dangers to the environment and the public. This was accompanied by a letter from PAN UK expressing their concerns.

After two follow up letters, due to lack of response, an official complaint was lodged with the ICO. The ICO issued an ultimatum to supply the information or risk prosecution. This was fulfilled by the parish council (on behalf of the Cow Lane Management Committee) by mid July 2015.

Client Earth (environmental lawyers), in October 2015, provided a 16 page report detailing the offences committed by the Cow Lane Management Committee and those involved with the spraying of Adlingfleet Common.

Copies of all correspondence, except the Client Earth report (this forms the basis of our legal challenge), are available on request.

Objective

• To raise funding for the initial cost of legal letters to the Cow Lane Committee.
• To hold those responsible for the misuse of pesticides under various acts.
• To request that the Cow Lane Committee cease all future pesticide use on the common.
• To request why DEFRA gave the derogation to spray.
• To raise funding to seek a judicial review in the misuse of pesticides in public places and to hold those accountable for such actions.

The initial costing for a letter from an environmental solicitor is £600.  The costs to take this to judicial review is estimated at £5000.

The devastating effects of pesticide spraying at the entrance to Adlingfleet Common.

Funding and Updates

£600 will be used to fund the legal costs to research and draft letters based on the Client Earth report. Funds over £600 will be set aside for any extra legal costs including a judicial review.

What if there is no judicial review?
Any funds over £600 that are unused will be either:

Used to form a SceneGreen trust/charity to provide assistance for similar environmental concerns in the UK.
or
Donated to a wildlife or pesticide action trust exclusively for UK environmental projects.

Copies of letters and replies will be posted as soon as they become available.

Donations

Donations up to £50 are very much appreciated and we thank you for helping to save the environment.

Donate £50+ - become included as a SPONSOR on all correspondence.

Donate £100+ - become included as a SPONSOR on all correspondence and, as a business, have your logo and website address included.

Danate £500+ - become included as a MAJOR SPONSOR on all correspondence and, as a business, have your logo and website address included.

Why Should I Support This?

It is important that small pockets of land are responsibly managed and set aside for the flora and fauna to flourish. If not they will be lost to the ravages of industrial farming - along with the butterflies, dragonflies, hares, bees, birds and every other creature that is unable to exist in a toxic environment.

With your help we can take a step to making a change and this can ultimately effect us all. Success will result in protection for Adlingfleet Common but may set an example for other important wildlife habitats to be protected.

Protected for the environment. Protected for you and your children. Protected for future generations.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 10th March 2016