Orchid Summer by Jon Dunn

Author:Jon Dunn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Three months after I visited Sutton and Catfield Fens I was pleasantly reminded of my day with the fen orchids in Richard’s company when, in September, the outcome was announced of the public inquiry into the Environment Agency’s decision to refuse the local farmer’s application to renew his water abstraction licences. In the end, the Planning Inspectorate upheld the decision to refuse the licence renewals. The inquiry was held in April and May, just weeks before I had gone to Norfolk. During the inquiry the Environment Agency had robustly defended its initial decision, presenting evidence from Natural England with the RSPB acting as an expert ecological witness. All three bodies provided a significant and compelling body of evidence demonstrating that refusal of the abstraction licences was the only option to safeguard the vulnerable Sutton and Catfield Fens and the species, not least fen orchids, that depended upon them.

Phil Pearson, the RSPB senior conservation officer for the Eastern region, said: ‘We are very happy with the positive outcome of the appeal. The planning inspector’s decision ensures protection for this crucial wildlife habitat and marks a significant milestone in our work with Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife and other partners to restore Catfield Fen to the best condition. Failure to address the adverse impact of water abstraction on this site now would have been disastrous for its longer-term protection and management.

‘Catfield Fen, along with nearby Sutton Fen, is the “best of the best” within one of Europe’s most important areas of wetland. Strong legal protection for the site has been an important factor in achieving a positive outcome, and highlights the need to maintain such protection for our finest wildlife sites in the future.’

It seemed as if the planets had aligned favourably that week where publicity for the fens was concerned, for they also featured prominently in the State of Nature 2016, an audit of the health of the UK’s wildlife undertaken by a coalition of over fifty wildlife and research organisations – including those champions of Sutton and Catfield Fens, the RSPB, Plantlife and Butterfly Conservation. East Anglia was highlighted for the importance of the habitats it held – 80 per cent of the nation’s fenland, 50 per cent of our reedbeds, 31 per cent of our saltmarsh and 22 per cent of our estuaries – and the wildlife that depended upon those habitats, not least 90 per cent of the British population of fen orchids.

However, launching the report at the Royal Society headquarters in London, Sir David Attenborough issued a stark warning: ‘The natural world is in serious trouble and it needs our help as never before. Landscapes are being restored, special places defended, struggling species being saved and brought back. But we need to build significantly on this progress if we are to provide a bright future for nature and for people.

‘The future of nature is under threat and we must work together – Governments, conservationists, businesses and individuals – to help it.’

The refusal to renew the water abstraction licences adjacent

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