About 50 people assembled at Finnamore Wood, near Marlow, on Saturday 18 July in an emotional vigil organised to protest changes at the woodland and to call for the formal recognition of paths they say have been used for generations.
The gathering followed work by property developer Zafiro to install an industrial-style, close-mesh steel fence approximately 2.4 metres high around about 50 acres of the wood. Residents and campaigners travelled from Marlow, Lane End and as far afield as London and Southampton to attend.
Community response and campaign aims
Organisers said the vigil was intended as an act of witness rather than a farewell to the woodland. Attendees attached notes to the new fencing and underlined their determination to defend the site and to restore access to paths they believe have been walked for more than two centuries.
“For generations, local people have walked these paths and known this wood as part of the fabric of our community… Seeing the paths closed and the woodland enclosed has brought grief, anger and a deep sense of injustice,” said campaigner Cindy Gale.
Campaigners are pursuing a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) to have the disputed footpaths formally recorded on the council’s rights-of-way map. They expect Buckinghamshire Council to reach a decision on the application within the next month.
Why the dispute matters locally
The clash raises a number of local policy and practical questions about access to green space, the protection of historic routes and the role of the unitary council in mediating between developers and communities. Residents described themselves as guardians of the woodland and highlighted the site's value for wildlife including deer, badgers, bats and numerous birds.
- Who attended: around 50 local people and campaigners from nearby towns and further afield.
- Developer involved: Zafiro, erecting the close-mesh steel fence.
- Key action sought: recognition of paths via a DMMO, decision expected within a month.
Quick reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Finnamore Wood, near Marlow |
| Date of vigil | Saturday 18 July |
| Number attending | Approx. 50 |
| Fence height | About 2.4 metres |
| Area enclosed | About 50 acres |
Buckinghamshire Council has been named by residents as a central actor in the dispute; campaigners argue the authority should act to protect historic access. The council will be the body to determine the DMMO application, and its forthcoming decision is likely to shape the next phase of the campaign.
For residents and regular users of Finnamore Wood the outcome will determine whether long-familiar routes continue to be part of everyday local life or whether access is curtailed by new boundaries. The vigil underlined that, for many, the wood is valued not only for recreation but as part of the community’s cultural and natural heritage.
