“The Gilston Great Park proposal is a ground breaking piece of work that deserves support from all those that care about both the environment of Essex and Hertfordshire as a whole and Harlow in particular and the quality of life of people who live and work in the area.
It is a prime example of working with nature for the benefit of all, preserving and enhancing the best while promoting improvements, like extended woodlands, and small scale development appropriate to the area.
It is reminiscent of the care and long term planning that went into the development of the great country estates of England but with the added bonus of public involvement in the planning and execution and enjoyment of the fruits of their labour.”

“I have long held the view that this beautiful countryside needs protecting for the long term. It is a green lung, not just for local people, but for the region as a whole. The idea therefore of creating Gilston Great Park is one which deserves the most serious consideration. If successful it would mean we could hand on something of incalculable benefit to the generations who come after us.”

Mark Prisk MP, Hertford & Stortford

"CPRE Hertfordshire is pleased to add its support to the proposal for Gilston Great Park. We especially welcome the policy to retain viable agriculture as the predominant land-use in the park, and endorse the aim to increase woodland cover form 6% to over 25% thus generating a significant carbon sink locally.  There is increasing evidence that regular visits to the countryside can enhance mental well-being and counter the stresses of modern urban living.  Public accessibility will be central to these proposals and will enhance Harlow's attractiveness and its regeneration as a place to live and work.  Gilston Great Park could become a model for countryside management in urban fringe locations."

I would like to commend the STOP Harlow North group for their work in producing the concept of Gilston Great Park. It is an imaginative proposal and puts forward a positive approach to the future management of this part of the District.
At the East of England Plan examination East Herts Council led the way in opposing the proposed expansion of Harlow and we were pleased that many of the arguments we put forward were reflected in the Panel’s conclusions in rejecting the proposal.
The STOP Harlow North group has been extremely active and committed in reinforcing the importance of this area of countryside and the current proposal for “actively managed countryside” takes the message to the logical next step. This area of countryside is of great value to East Herts residents but also provides a significant resource for residents of Harlow and surrounding areas in terms of providing open countryside for recreational and cultural activities. Enhanced management of this area could provide increased recreational opportunities while securing wildlife and biodiversity gains.
The proposals put forward for Gilston Great Park match this Council’s vision for the future of this part of the District and I offer my support to the proposals. The vision will need to be refined through the involvement of stakeholders and local landowners and implementation plans need to be developed to set out how the vision might be achieved. East Herts Council will be involved in those discussions and in particular will investigate how the vision might, at the appropriate time, become part of the future planning framework for the area.