Having heard rumors of plans to drill for oil in the National Park of the South Downs it has come to light that Northern Petroleum did indeed intend to construct a number of new drilling stations in Hampshire and Sussex. Media attention has been minimal with only passing references made. Obviously this is being brushed under the carpet in the attempt to attract as little attention as possible! Are you going to stand by and let this happen??!
There have been similar enterprises near Hedge End which have until this point are situated in Fields (all of which are close to residential areas!) this new site however is to be built in an Ancient Woodland! It would involve the deforestation of substantial patch of fantastic trees, the decision to build was passed with the Wildlife Trusts consent being by passed (apparently they were informed of the wrong day to attend the meeting) and is tucked out of sight at the back of the woods so as to avoid it being noticeable from the road. The initial site is in Markswell Woods near Finchdean (about 3 miles from Rowland castle) and there are plans to build other stations in other Woods (visit NPs website for a map of their next steps where they have conveniently failed to mention that they have already started drilling)
We paid them a little visit to discover a wonderfully tranquil wood in the throws of abuse. Whilst there we saw hawks, badger warrens, rabbits and deer and very tasty wild Garlic to name a few. Work may have already begun but it is still in the early stages! At present the level ground has been cleared and concrete and the first bores have been laid to position the derick and large areas have been marked out for further development!
Besides the point this is a national park and should be subject to stringent protection, surely of all the developments which should not be allowed building an Oil Rig is top of that list, we are entering a time where we need to be developing sustainable energy sources rather than continuing to rape the earth! This will involve not only pollution from Greenhouse gases but also in the local area, as well as meaning hundreds of trees will have to be cut down. If this happens then it will be used as leverage by other companies to get their foot in the door and keep it there. The wood is an incredibly fragile ecosystem, whose disturbance will cause havoc among the wild animals which live in it.
We need to stand up to this rather than just mumbling that it is a bad thing and shaking our head! This is our Earth and our existence is tied immovably with her survival. Northern petroleum's plans are the very example of our inherent abuse which has gone on for too long and must be stopped! We must not sit idly while multinationals use our home which has nurtured us for so long as if it was expendable!
 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2138778