Let’s finish what we started!

Hello, my name is Sarah, also known locally as “The Tree Lady”. I’m part of the Save Rotary Wood campaign - Trees NOT Plastic. Say NO! to Danone!

I am working with our MP Tom Gordon, councillors Arnold Warneken and Michael Schofield, and several local councillors, plus many local community groups to focus our efforts.

Our campaign has the backing of Dame Judi Dench, Joanna Lumley, Jonathon Porrit, Dr George McGaving, Samuel West, Bianca Jagger, and Champions for Earth: Olympians and sports personalities.

Rotary Wood is a designated Asset of Community Value (ACV) — a cherished 4.25-acre community woodland planted over 20 years ago by residents, schools, and Rotary volunteers to mark the Rotary Centenary and help tackle climate change, now a Council declared climate emergency (April 10, 2019).

Today, it stands as a thriving, biodiverse woodland supporting wildlife, protected species, and the wellbeing of our community. It’s a living example of how collective action can make a difference, and it continues to face a serious threat.

Danone/Harrogate Spring Water (HSW) are seeking to expand their single-use plastic bottling plant into Rotary Wood. The factory already extracts water at a rate of up to 36,000 single-use plastic bottles per hour, with licence to extract 464 million litres. They have now sought to extract from an additional aquifer in Killinghall, over 3 miles away from the current factory. The proposal would result in the loss of precious ACV community woodland; directly contradicting both local climate policies and global environmental commitments.

The 2023 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report clearly calls for governments and businesses to “halt deforestation” immediately.

New tree planting off site, on privately owned (Danone owned) land, cannot replace the complex ecosystem and carbon-storing capacity of established woodland like Rotary Wood, nor can it replace our valuable public green space.

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⚖️ Why We Need Your Help — Now

On Friday 17th April, North Yorkshire Council councillors voted to refuse the Reserved Matters which is a HUGE win!

As we celebrate this win, we also recognise the possibility of Danone/Harrogate Spring Water appealing this decision or re-apply. We are determined to continue the fight to save Rotary Wood, and your generous donations will help us to do this.

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How Your Donation Will Help

All funds raised will go directly towards:

• ⚖️ Specialist legal advice and representation and commissioning any specialist reports needed to strengthen our case

• Dedicated communications and campaign materials to engage and inform the public

• Improvement of accessibility and woodland conservation

Together, we can protect Rotary Wood for future generations.

Please donate, share, and spread the word: Trees, not plastic! Say NO! to Danone.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sarah