A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WILDLIFE
15 May 2002
The North Swindon Development Company has announced a further £15,000 will be spent on promoting the conservation of the wildlife habitat of the Priory Vale development. Developers have contracted Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the county's biggest nature conservation charity, to involve homeowners and other members of the public in explaining the wildlife value of the planned urban village and friendly gardening.
Conservation efforts will focus on protecting wildlife - such as the endangered Great Crested Newt - as the development progresses, and on showing house buyers how to turn their new plots of land into environmentally friendly havens for birds, butterflies, insects and other wildlife. Information leaflets covering measure in place to protect wildlife at the development, and "green" gardening techniques, have been published to coincide with the completion of the first houses at the site.
The money will also used to develop interpretation boards for an ancient hay meadow adjoining the site. The 16-acre meadow, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is home to the Green Veined orchid and many other meadow species. A long-term management plan is in place to protect the meadow and the wildlife it supports. Also planned are guided wildlife walks by a local wildlife liaison officer, and informative talks about wildlife in the area.
Since an Environmental Impact Assessment three years ago, Priory Vale has put a vast amount of time and effort into incorporating existing wildlife into development plans for the area, also known as Haydon 3. According to director, David Thompson, "The Priory Vale development is in the middle of one of Swindon's places of true natural beauty. Through an ongoing commitment to the environment we hope to not just to preserve existing wildlife habitats, but to improve the wildlife value of the area for the benefit of all."
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