Dame Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley Help Save Harrogate Wood

Saturday, April 18, 2026

Local councillors in Harrogate rejected Harrogate Spring Water’s proposal to expand its bottling plant, which would have involved cutting down hundreds of trees in the community-planted Rotary Wood. The decision, influenced by over 1,000 public objections and support from prominent figures, prioritizes preserving the woodland’s ecological and cultural importance despite potential economic benefits from job creation.

A proposal to expand a water bottling plant in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was rejected by local councillors following significant community opposition. The expansion plan by Harrogate Spring Water (HSW) would have resulted in the removal of hundreds of trees in a community woodland known as Rotary Wood, which was planted by local children and volunteers approximately 20 years ago.

The planning meeting, held on April 17, 2026, saw North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Planning Committee reject the application after receiving over 1,000 objections from residents and supporters who emphasized the ecological and cultural value of the woodland. The campaign against the expansion attracted support from public figures including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joanna Lumley, and Bianca Jagger, who highlighted the importance of preserving the site as a living and growing woodland space.

In a letter addressed to councillors ahead of the vote, Dame Judi Dench described Rotary Wood as more than just a plot of land, emphasizing its role as “part of Harrogate’s natural fabric and part of the area’s shared sense of place.” She underscored concerns related to biodiversity loss and the broader environmental context, stating that in a time of increasing awareness about climate change and nature protection, the woodland should not be viewed as dispensable.

HSW’s managing director, Richard Hall, acknowledged the objections but stressed the economic benefits the expansion would bring, including the creation of more than 50 new jobs. He also noted the company’s plans to offset the environmental impact by planting a new public woodland with 491 trees and committing to the planting of approximately 3,000 additional trees across the Harrogate district.

Despite these proposals, councillors sided with community opponents, prioritizing the preservation of the established woodland, which holds historical and environmental significance due to its origins as a volunteer-planted space nurtured by local families and schoolchildren. The decision reflects ongoing tensions between development ambitions and environmental conservation efforts within growing communities.