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<p>HS2 is an exceptionally important infrastructure project, and there are significant
compensation packages in place to mitigate for the unavoidable loss of 39.2 hectares
resulting from HS2.</p><p>HS2 is using a combination of approaches to compensate for
the ancient woodlands lost during construction, including soil translocation from
affected ancient woodlands to other woodlands to improve their biodiversity, restoring
existing ancient woodland and planting new woodland.</p><p>The HS2 Woodland Fund is
the compensation strategy for ancient woodland loss, with £5 million provided for
HS2 Phase 1. This has been made available to fund projects that will help support
woodland creation, as well as restore and enhance woodland on private land or in partnership
with multiple landowners. This fund is overseen by the Forestry Commission. £1.6 million
of this fund has already been committed, supporting around 121 hectares of new native
woodland creation and the restoration of 174 hectares of plantations within ancient
woodland sites. £2 million more has been provisionally allocated for Phase 2a.</p>
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