HOUSING developers in Warwickshire are being urged to also make a home for wildlife.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is working with developers and local authorities to develop new guidelines to meet the needs of local wildlife during the planning of new homes.
A positive start has been made with the drawing up of a Green Infrastructure Concept for Long Marston Airfield near Stratford where some 3,500 new homes are set to be built. The concept looks to provide homes for wildlife and bring people closer to nature.
With endangered water voles downstream of Long Marston the ‘concept statement’ advises how to enhance the habitat and increase their chances of survival.
The trust is now working on similar visions for other proposed development sites in the county.
Spokeswoman Rachel Hackett said: “We’re calling on the government and local authorities to build beautiful, nature-friendly communities in the right places.
“We should avoid destroying wildlife sites and locate new houses in places where it can help to restore the landscape and aid natural recovery.
“It’s possible to create nature-friendly housing by planting wildlife-rich community green spaces, walkways, gardens, verges, roofs, wetlands and other natural features. These gains for wildlife improve people’s health and quality of life too.”
