Plans for a so-called 'forest city' in east Cambridgeshire have been criticised for threatening food security and destroying valuable farmland. The proposed development would cover 18,000 hectares, with an additional 4,800 hectares set aside for a new forest.
Jon Reeds of Smart Growth UK warns that the scheme would destroy grade 2 farmland, some of England's most productive and scarce agricultural land. He argues that the UK already produces little more than half the food it needs, and that food security is under acute threat.
Reeds also highlights that sustainable development requires balancing land uses. While farming needs to be more nature-friendly, modern arable land supports significant soil flora, fauna, and farmland birds. Sealing vast areas of soil and creating pollution would undermine any environmental benefits.
The letter, published in response to an article on the forest city plan, emphasises that protection of nature is just one component of sustainability. The other essential elements, including food production, must not be overlooked.
