Will There Be Fracking in Sherwood Forest?

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Will There Be Fracking in Sherwood Forest?

Sherwood Forest has become the latest battleground for fracking, as chemical firm Ineos target the area for a seismic survey.

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Sherwood Forest. image: Creative Commons

Campaigners are petitioning the government to block any possible fracking and protect the forest. Online petitions on websites by 38 Degrees and Friends of the Earth have gathered almost 300,000 signatures.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Guy Shrubsole said: "Is nothing sacred? By hunting for shale gas in Sherwood Forest and on National Trust land, chemicals giant Ineos is sticking two fingers up at England's green heritage, all in the pursuit of profit. Ineos should back off and drop their quest for fracking.

The public wants to protect their English countryside and prefers renewable energy, not dirty shale gas, which will only add to climate change."

Fracking is the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks and boreholes to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas. Ineos, which relocated its headquarters back to the UK at the end of 2016, appears to have agreed terms with the Forestry Commission to spend up to two years using “thumper trucks” or vibroseis machines to search for shale gas.

According to documents obtained under freedom of information request by Friends of the Earth, they could be working within 200 metres of the iconic Major Oak, a 1,000-year old tree that in folklore sheltered Robin Hood and his merry men.

Ineos told the Daily Telegraph that no decision had been made on whether fracking would go ahead under the national nature reserve, adding that “any decision to position a well site will take into account environmental features such as the Major Oak”. 

Source: Leflion

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