A LEADING conservationist has lent his support to campaigners fighting to save a wildlife haven in Bovey Tracey.

The novelist and outdoor writer John Bainbridge, is a former chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association.

In a letter to Teignbridge District Council – sent while the public consultation phase of the Local Plan Review was underway – he has slammed National Trust plans to sell Bonds Meadow in Bovey Tracey to developers.

The meadow was bequeathed to the trust nearly 50 years ago and is home to many rare species.

The trust now wants to sell the three-acre site to fund maintenance projects and tree planting at the nearby Parke estate.

Residents in Bovey Tracey have formed the Save Bonds Meadow group (SBM). wish to remove the meadow’s status as ‘suitable for development’ from the Teignbridge Local Plan which is currently under review.

Their campaign has raised nearly 4,000 signatures on an online petition and received support from local MP Mel Stride.

Sally Morgan, an SBM co-ordinator, said: ‘We have received so many letters of support, and to know a well regarded conservationist such as Mr Bainbridge has written to Teignbridge is very encouraging.’

Mr Bainbridge writes: ‘I wish to object to the proposal to schedule Bonds Meadow as development land under the Local Plan review.

‘As someone who knew Major Hole, who left the land to the National Trust, I know he wouldn’t have wanted this land to be sold for development, given that its nature has changed substantially since the previous plan and since his death.

‘What was a meadow has become a considerable nature reserve, with species which are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.’

Mr Bainbridge went on to say: ‘When Major Hole left the property to the National Trust, Bovey Tracey was little more than a modest village. Since his death, Bovey Tracey has grown substantially, leaving very little open space within its immediate confines. Much of other parts of Teignbridge have become subject to urban sprawl, so any remaining green spaces should be all the more valued.

‘We have seen during the pandemic how much people value small open spaces. How important they are for people’s physical and mental health, and how they help children relate to nature.

‘You say in the introduction to your Local Plan Review, that Teignbridge is anxious to be a leader in the battle against climate change. Destroying Bonds Meadow would be detrimental to that ambition.

‘There are already many areas of Teignbridge scheduled for development. Bonds Meadow can easily be spared. Nor does the National Trust need the money, being a fabulously wealthy organisation with 5.6 million subscribing members – more than the entire population of Finland!

‘We urge Teignbridge District Council to remove Bonds Meadow from the local plan. We are former residents of Teignbridge of many years standing and still have links to the area.’

SBM’s Sally added:‘It might be called Bonds Meadow, but over time it has changed to become natural woodland and must be preserved for future generations.

‘The deadline for the Local Plan Review has now passed, but we are still continuing our campaign.

‘We even have SBM T-shirts which are now available at the Bovey Larder. All profits will go towards our fighting fund!’