Chiltern's Conservation Board reflects on over a decade of HS2
The first detailed plans for the railway were shared in 2010
After over a decade of HS2 plans the Chiltern's Conservation Board (CCB) is reflecting on the line.
The Chiltern's Conservation Board looks after the Area Of Natural Beauty (AONB), between London and Aylesbury and is the only one to be served by the London Underground.
The first detailed proposals for HS2 were published in 2010, with the route showing the proposed line going through the widest part of the AONB.
So, the CCB joined with local authorities, groups and individuals to oppose the plans.
Neil Jackson is the Conservation and Landscape officer for CCB:
"We felt it wasn't appropriate to plough a high speed railway right through the middle of a protested landscape.
"tried our best to convince the government it wasn't the best use of money but we were ultimately unsuccessful with that.
"But, because of the arguments put forward we were able to persuade the government to give us some concessions.
"For example, the first section of the route is two tunnels that will start just inside the M25 and will run through to Great Missenden in the heart of the AONB.
"At the start it was going to be just to Amersham, in extending that we have saved disruption to 4 ancient woodlands and the local communities."
When the HS2 act was approved in 2017 the role of organisations like CCB was restricted.
Since then their role in relation to HS2 as been to try and minimise the impact on the local people and landscape from this line.
Neil says although they continue to disagree with the line, its important people focus on the current battles:
"About half of it will still be above ground in the AONB, there will be viaducts which are not in keeping, despite the best efforts of lots of people, with the natural habitats around them.
"There will be permanent barriers built, which will impact animals movement.
"A real issue of climate change is species are gradually moving north. If you have concrete barriers fencing and so on it will be a real barrier to the movement of the animals.
"So these will be permanent scars on the Chilterns but there is more that can be done to help.
"Like greening the over bridges, which is where you make them more suitable for animals and wildlife to pass over.
"We have no full green bridges on the route but if we try and green them slightly it will make them better."
Challenging contractors on the necessity of tree felling is also one area the CCB is continuing to question HS2 on.
Certain trees along the route are being felled to allow for construction vehicles to pass by, so CCB along with others are trying to persuade HS2 to fell the least amount of trees that will allow the work to continue in these circumstances.
Neil says its important people enter into these dialogues with locals, communities and representatives from HS2 with the aim of minimising damages and try to secure as many improvements as possible.