BALDERTON’S ‘WILD ISLES’ UNDER THREAT
Campaigners warn of environmental damage to Newark’s natural gem
Campaign group Protect Newark’s Green Spaces (PNGS) has warned that Balderton’s very own Wild Isles could soon be destroyed. Historic fields off Lowfield Lane are home to precious grasslands and wildlife. Yet, Newark and Sherwood District Council (NSDC) now plans to build 151 houses through its in-house developer, Arkwood.
Biodiverse grasslands are highlighted in Sir David Attenborough’s new BBC series, Wild Isles. In episode 3, Grassland, which will air this Sunday (26 March), Sir David described his childhood in nature: “Back then, it was easy to find hay meadows rich with wildflowers and swarming with butterflies and insects of all kinds. But since then, we have lost more than 95% of these wonderful habitats.”
“An accessible slice of nature”
The at-risk Lowfield Lane fields support a wealth of species including tawny owls and barn owls, kestrels, green woodpeckers, bullfinches, muntjac, foxes and bats. The last mediaeval field system in the parish, the area is also home to a rare funghi, the Earth Star. An ecology report within the planning application recommended further surveys for protected species.
“This is a beautiful spot for Newark people to enjoy an accessible slice of nature,” said PNGS campaigner, Esther Cropper. “Yet NSDC has submitted an application for a large housing estate. The development will decimate this crucial wildlife corridor.”
“A very clear case of environmental damage”
Des Kay, an environmental professional who manages the wildlife site bordering the proposed development, said that NSDC’s plans would result in “a very clear case of environmental damage.” He explained that the wildlife site Lowfield Lane is officially designated as species-rich grassland; exactly what Sir David Attenborough will talk about in this Sunday’s episode of Wild Isles.
“The barn and tawny owls that breed and forage here testify to its value but if this disappears, it will be the end of them,” said Des. “The hedgerows and mature trees provide bat roosts. We have another key species, green woodpeckers, which don’t take well to disturbance as they feed on the ground. The ecological report confirms the loss of the species-rich grassland on the development site and that the damage will spill over onto the wildlife site if houses are built. Subsequent comments from other professionals are confirming this.”
Des questioned why so many new houses are being built in Newark and insisted that Lowfield Lane is not a suitable site because the fields are of rich, biological importance and form part of an essential wildlife corridor running to Middlebeck.
“You’ll hear from David Attenborough that isolated pockets of nature don’t function; they die,” he said. “It is such hypocrisy from NSDC. In 2021, the planning department refused a different application on the principle of biodiversity net gain – the strategy to develop land and help nature recover. But NSDC isn’t applying that principle to their own development, which will cause ten times more damage. The government initiative ’15 to Green’ states that we should all live within 15 minutes of green space. The Sustrans route links into Lowfield Lane, making it accessible by foot or bike. We have this wonderful green space connecting people with nature and yet our council wants to destroy it. It’s beyond belief.”
“Building on people’s memories”
Darren Riley’s family has lived in Balderton for four generations. He said: “Lowfield Lane was my playground growing up; the whole area is folklore in my family. I used to go there with my grandad and it’s now wonderful to take my own grandson to see the meadows. People have precious memories of Lowfield Lane but that’s not important to developers, who seem set on building on people’s memories.”
Below images thanks to Darren Riley and Des Kay.
NOTES TO EDITOR:
· NSDC declared a climate emergency in 2019. It now plans to build a development of 151 houses on fields bordering a wildlife site. The authority has already fulfilled its quota of new homes.
· PNGS is a community group which campaigns to save green spaces in Newark and successfully saved the Library Garden from being destroyed for a car park development by NSDC in 2021.
