wildlife gardens and builders
By carolynen
10 comments
I have spent the last almost 20 years trying to garden organically to encourage wild life into my garden. We had rare toads, bats that lived in the rectory roof next door not to mention lesser spotted wood peckers and many other creatures besides.
A builder came along called Antler Homes first they knocked down the rectory so all the bats lost their homes. We are lucky if we see one or two now. They said they were putting up special roosts for the bats I asked them how they knew the bats wouldf use them. They said they didn’t. Then they flloded the land for weeks on end this caused large trees to come down even though they denied doing this. (I have pictures). Then they decided to spray weedkiller all along my fence which I believe killed off loads of plants,shrubs, trees not to mention out toads. They refused to say what weedkiller they used even thought they addmitted using weedkiller.
My garden is runied as far as the wildlife is concerned I am not sure how to put things right even though I keep trying.
It seems criminal that thye can go around the country doing this and yet get away with it because they have planning permission.
Is it not time that there was more done to prtect animal habitats from builders?
19 Nov, 2008
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Comments
omg Carolynen , that really is a horror story.
there really should be some law out there to protect wildlife, im sure there is. i know over here new roads had to be re routed when rare flora or fauna was found.
20 Nov, 2008
What a horror story!
It is unfortunate that both here and there, builders and developers can get away with flaunting what few laws are in place. I had so much trouble with the builder when we bought this place 20 years ago. Their idea of landscaping was to completely level the lot removing all native vegetation and cover it all with grass. No trees, nothing!
Now the wildlife is finally coming back into the area, thanks to me and 2-3 other homeowners.
We have had to be forceful and educate neighbors about the few laws that are in effect, maybe there are wildlife advocacy groups in your area that could help?
20 Nov, 2008
Sorry to hear about all this :-( A few points spring to mind tho:- TPO - Tree Preservation Orders can be used to protect trees - you can get emergency TPOs if necessary - they don't just protect the tree, but also the gound immediately within the vacinity of the tree. ALso, don't underestimate the lobbying value of your local Nature Trust. TPOs can also apply to hedgerows. As for bats, I'm surprised the rectory was demolished - all bat species are protected in teh UK. And listed building status might have been applied to the building......Alas of course all this is in hindsight...
20 Nov, 2008
I've heard they're going to build houses in the field behind my house. I hope they leave the hedgerow between us. I don't think they care much about the environment. I think it all comes down to how much money they can make.
Well they certainly made a mess of your surroundings Carolyne didn't they ? Terrible. !
20 Nov, 2008
Definitely a horror story, Carolyn. I don't suppose you have photos of what they did, have you?
It is most definitely illegal to disturb a bat habitat. They could even now be prosecuted for doing that, I think the Nature Conservancy people might be a useful contact for you.
Hywel - what a nightmare for you! You will have to see what you can find out and try to protect that hedgerow, not just for the wildlife, but for your own privacy.
20 Nov, 2008
A friend of mine just found out he's going to have a freerange chicken farm built behind his house for 12,000 chichens - the planning department didn't even let him know - he just got a letter to say there were no objections!!! We wrote a strongly worded letter and I typed it up for him so it looked all nice and professional like - hope it hits a mark somewhere... :-S
20 Nov, 2008
OMG! The smell will be terrible - I bet he moves!
20 Nov, 2008
We are currently in a long-standing battle with a national house building company who bought a large piece of land further up the road (effectively from the Government) and are now trying, at every opportunity, to ride roughshod what had already been agreed by the local council AND a Planning Inspector. The latest is to cram 1150 houses on a site earmarked for 730.
20 Nov, 2008
~oh Andrew that's awful!
Can you do anything about it?
20 Nov, 2008
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~How sad~
~Some builders are complete cowboys!~
20 Nov, 2008