Page 40 - link magazine

40 The Link Magazine • August 200 4
Rare species need to be protected as North population grows

A couple from North Swindon are appealing to other newcomers to the area to protect an ancient piece of farmland in their midst.
Stephanie and Paul Exell moved An SSSI is an area of land desig- plants have scattered their seeds. April when developers Wimpey
from Grange Park to Southwold nated by English Nature as being The meadow qualifies for spe- South West continued to use a
Close in Oakhurst last December. of nationally important habitat. cial protection because the rare small parcel of land between their
They were particularly attracted Haydon Meadow, which is pri- green winged orchid Orchis mono house and the site as a dumping
to the house next to the Haydon vately owned, is a haven for birds is to be found there. It's the image ground for building waste.
Meadow Site of Special Scientific and wildlife including deer, badg- used in the Priory Vale logo. Wimpey directors eventually met
Interest (SSSI), which they believe ers and newts, insects and unusual The original outline planning them on site and acted promptly to
will never be built upon. plants, because ithas been allowed permission to develop North Swin- clear the mess and put up tempo-
However, in the future, with to develop as an ecosystem over don was sanctioned in 1992 by the rary fencing, pending the building
houses on three sides of the SSSI, hundreds of years using old farm- Conservative Government. The of a permanent watering area for
they are worried that the growing land management techniques. The Secretary of State for the Environ- cattle using the field.
population will threaten the deli- area has not been ploughed in liv- ment Michael Howard, now leader "We're now very aware of the
cate environmental balance in the ing memory and farm animals are of the Her Majesty's opposition, need to protect the SSSI from peo-
landscape achieved over genera- only turned out to graze the field declared that the building of 10,000 ple," said Paul. "We want the de-
tions. after hay has been cut in July and homes would not have a signifi- velopers, the council and the land-
cant effect on the environment, so owner to quickly agree a manage-
an assessment of its impact on ment plan so that the land can be
wildlife was not required. fenced and residents informed of
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WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF Thanks to the efforts of Jean how important these fields are. The
Saunders from Swindon Friends land is privately owned and there
10% off _ i^ of the Earth, the incoming Labour is no right of way, but to ensure
l all bathroom Government blocked the develop- that the plant and wildlife is pre-
.suites, showers ment of Haydon 3 (Priory Vale) in served, it means everybody should
and cubicles 1997, until an acceptable Environ- make an effort to keep dogs out,
20% off mental Statement (EIA) was pre- avoid dropping litter, or asking
kitchens CI pared. The delay resulted in a re- children not to use it for football.
designed Master Plan which saw "We the residents should not be
more land allocated to open space, responsible for ruining this spe-
with original hedgerows preserved cial piece of land."
Ceramic Tiles; to create wildlife corridors Patrick Cashman, conservation
throughout the area. The Link re- officer for English Nature, con-
ported this success in January 1999. firmed that negotiations continue
A large choice at affordable prices from Haydon Meadow had been rec- with the North Swindon Develop-
leading manufacturers across Eur e ognised as an important County ment Company, who are building
Wildlife Site, but the EIA provided Priory Vale, and Swindon Coun-
M
C l AIMI f C 5f l 1L See detailed information, including the cil, regarding their responsibilities
our display at discovery of a significant popula- to ensure that the meadow is not
DATG; ROO OO fM S $ SHOWC S tion of Orchis morio. English Na- harmed by development. "Inter-
West Swindon
Aqualisa showers, Roman shower Centre ture moved swiftly to ensure the pretation boards will be put up to
cubicles and vitra bathroom suites 12th to 16th area was designated an SSSI. inform residents about the special
supplied and fitted at affordable prices August Stephanie and Paul have becom- wildlife. I hope the ongoing man-
Superb quality assured 'A ing increasingly worried about the agement and maintenance ar-
threat to the site. "During our first rangements will be in placeby next
Tel: 01793 815266 six months here we have seen won- year's flowering season."
derful changes in the landscape,"
He added that there will be a
said Stephanie. "The winter winds public open space immediately to
Open six days a week.
made the area look quite bleak but the north of the SSSI with play
Sunday by appointment WROUGHTON it was magnificent as Spring equipment to accommodate needs
Unit 7 Wroughton Business Park To West moved into Summer. The number for recreation in the area, thereby
Wrou hton Swindon via of birds living in the hedgerows
9
Swindon Road, Wroughton Business I Hay Lane and relieving pressure on the meadow.
www.navahotiles.com Park 3 Junction 16 around the site is wonderful and "Hopefully local people will be-
co
we often see deer in the distance. come the eyes and ears of the
CALL US NOW FOR A FREE SURVEY The badger setts are thought to be farmer and wildlife bodies to look
Please note this is not a retail unit over a hundred years old." out for any problems around the
OLD TOW
Their concerns were raised in site."