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London Stansted calls on Suffolk Punch Horses to help manage ancient woodland

London Stansted Airport has taken a step back in time, calling on the services of Suffolk Punch Horses to help manage its ancient woodland, Eastend Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) located just beyond the end of the runway.

Part of a 10 year management plan developed with Natural England, and closely managed by consultant ecologists Penny Anderson Associates, around 35 trees were identified for removal to allow it to continue flourishing, despite the fact that millions of passengers pass overhead each year (currently 18 million). To avoid damage that modern machinery might cause, the airport turned to traditional methods, utilising the help and power of the Suffolk Punch Horse to remove felled wood.

Commenting on the introduction of Suffolk Punch Horses into this unique project, Head of Planning and Sustainability for Stansted Airport, Dr Andy Jefferson said:

“We work closely with Natural England to help meet their long-term objectives for this ancient woodland, and whilst we all agreed that trees needed to be removed to protect its future, we were reluctant to use modern machinery which would damage flourishing habitats and wildlife.

“Some may question why we would remove trees from a SSSI, but this work is vital to ensure sufficient natural sunlight reaches lower level plant life to protect the future growth of important rare flora, such as oxlip, and to allow the remaining trees to grow strong by reducing overcrowding.

“Seeing the Suffolk Punch at work transports you back in time, especially against the backdrop of a major international airport operation and I’m sure we’ll work with them again as part of our on-going management of this important woodland that we’re proud to manage and maintain.”

By the end of March 2012 its anticipated around 80m³ of wood will be removed, all of which will be re-used, some as oak beams, some as mulch and some chipped to power Stansted’s 2MW biomass boiler, one of the largest in commercial use in the UK.

Consultant ecologist Penny Anderson has closely managed biodiversity at London Stansted Airport for over 30 years, and commenting on the management of Eastend Wood she said:

“This SSSI is of national importance and Stansted Airport has always taken its management very seriously, providing resources to effectively manage and balance the nature conservation and safety of aircraft operations.

“This latest management programme means that Stansted will now use some of the timber produced in Eastend Wood to power its biomass boiler, making it all fit together so neatly from an environmental perspective.”

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SACC Annual Summer BBQ

by julie

Stansted Airport Chamber of Commerce Annual Summer BBQ

Monday 16 July 2012, 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Venue/Sponsor details:
Down Hall Country House Hotel, Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Bishop's Stortford, Herts. CM22 7AS.

Come along and meet fellow business professionals in an relaxed atmosphere at the impressive Italianate mansion set in 110 acres of surrounding woodland, parkland and landscaped gardens.

Enjoy networking alfresco (weather permitting) over a glass of wine and freshly prepared BBQ offerings provided by our host and sponsor, Down Hall.

We hope you can join us! Book early to avoid disappointment as places are limited.

Cost to attend: £20.00 SACC Members, £23.50 for Non-Members (cost plus VAT)

If you would like to book to attend this event, please book online, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone Julie Budden on (01279) 87 00 64.

We require 2 days notice of bookings prior to the event to ensure your details appear on our attendance list. If you do not receive confirmation of your place within 2 days of booking, please contact Julie Budden on (01279) 87 00 64.

Details of all attendees to any SACC event are included within the events delegate list. You hereby consent to the use of your data for that purpose in accordance with Data Protection Act 1998.

3 full working days notice of cancellation.

Down Hall Hotel is one of England's most established country house hotels. Located in Hatfield Heath, near Bishop's Stortford on the Hertfordshire and Essex border, Down Hall is 45 minutes from central London and also ideally located near Stansted Airport.

Dating back to 1322, this impressive Italianate mansion is an historic setting. The hotel's luxury interiors, ornate ceilings and abundance of natural daylight make for an experience like no other.

Take time to wander the 110 acres of surrounding woodland, parkland and landscaped gardens or sample traditional English Afternoon Tea in front of the roaring log fire. Why not enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner in The Grill Room restaurant, serving modern English cooking prepared with fresh ingredients from our own vegetable garden?

Dating back to 1322, this impressive Italianate mansion is an historic setting. The hotel's luxury interiors, ornate ceilings and abundance of natural daylight make for an experience like no other.

Meetings and Events

Down Hall Country House Hotel is one of the largest meeting and event centres near Stansted Airport, on the Essex and Hertfordshire border. With 26 multi-purpose rooms, we have a maximum conference capacity of 200 guests.

All meeting rooms feature an abundance of natural daylight and high, ornate ceilings to ensure participants are as productive as possible. They are fully equipped with the latest presentation technology and wireless internet access, and our flexible layout means conferences and meetings can be individually tailored to meet your venue requirements.

Our hotel is located just 15 minutes from Stansted Airport in Essex and 45 minutes from central London, and is also a popular choice for other corporate events, including team building, training and private dining. For overnight accommodation, Down Hall has 99 well-equipped individually designed bedrooms.

If you are looking to hire a venue for your special occasion, be it a birthday, wedding anniversary or Christmas party, Down Hall has long experience hosting exclusive events and we are happy to discuss your individual requirements with you.

To discuss your conference and meeting room requirements, please telephone Down Hall hotel on 01279 731 441.

Location : Down Hall Country House Hotel, Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Bishop's Stortford, Herts. CM22 7AS.
Contact : Julie Budden (01279) 87 00 64

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