Villagers’ fury as housing developer chops down 200ft long hedgerow in middle of nesting season for ‘safety of pedestrians and cyclists’ – as police launch probe
- Furious locals said the action had annihilated a vital wildlife haven for birds
- Housing developer Redrow claimed a survey showed no birds were nesting there
Villagers have reacted with fury after a housing developer razed a 200ft hedgerow almost to the ground for ‘safety’ reasons as police launch a probe into the incident.
Angry locals and commuters who use the route branded the brutal trim ‘casual biodiversity destruction’ and said it had annihilated a vital wildlife haven for birds and insects.
The work, blamed on ensuring ‘the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles’, was carried out in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, last week, in the middle of nesting season and as nature was bursting back to life after winter.
Developer Redrow claimed a survey showed no birds were nesting there but locals fear some were in place.
It is an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Before: Google Street images show what the 200ft long hedgerow looked like before it was chopped down
An academic who has cycled past the hedge on her commute to work every day since 2008, questioned how ‘chopping down the entire hedge was the only solution?’
The woman, 47, who asked not to be named, posted a video of the destruction on social media which has been viewed more than a million times in just a few days.
She said: ‘I just couldn’t believe that it’s been removed in that way and also to that extent.
‘The whole thing is completely gone. It’s such a shame. It’s a mixture of devastation and horror [that I’m feeling], really.
‘It really was a habitat for sparrows and other birds. It really was just beautiful and at this time of year would as well it would have just been coming into blossom and would have been the perfect resource for pollinators.’
Natural world activist James Murray-White added: ‘I visited this site of casual biodiversity destruction today – a long hedge, that was in blossom, that contained nests, shelter, life – now uniformly slashed to the ground.’
One local posted a video of the destruction on social media which has been viewed more than a million times in just a few days
The 200ft long hedgerow looked like before it was razed
The work on the hedge, which is understood to have stood for decades along Babraham Road, was carried out on April 12. A complaint was lodged with Cambridgeshire Police that day.
It previously stood around 6ft high but now only stumps are left alongside the road, which runs past new build terraced homes and fields.
Locals said as well as harbouring wildlife, it made cyclists feel safer as it provided a natural barrier against oncoming traffic.
Developer Redrow, which is building more than 200 homes on the outskirts of the village, said the natural feature was removed following consultation with Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Sawston Parish Council.
Technical director Philip Clark added: ‘In order to meet the highway authority’s requirement for this development and to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles, we were required to lower the height of the hedge.
‘This was carried out in agreement with the councils and a full survey was undertaken by an ecologist prior to the work beginning to confirm no birds were nesting.
Images show the 200ft long hedgerow in the village of Sawston, Cambridgeshire
‘We have worked hard to ensure an overall enhancement in habitats for birds and wildlife in the development. There will be an overall net gain in biodiversity, with new wildflower, hedge and tree planting, including a community orchard and the creation of wetland areas.’
Cllr Brian Milnes, the county councillor who represents Sawston, said: ‘Following planning permission, the county council formed an agreement with the developer, Redrow.
‘As part of this highway works agreement, Redrow were required to lower the hedge to make sure there was safe access for both the traffic using the site and those travelling on the highway.
‘Before the hedge was cut back, we understand Redrow carried out a survey and no birds were nesting.
‘We will continue to work with Redrow to see if anything can be planted further along the verge at an appropriate time.’
Cambridgeshire Police said: ‘An offence has been reported to us under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is under investigation.’
The district and parish councils have been contacted for a comment.
The RSPB recommends ‘avoiding hedge cutting during the main breeding season for nesting birds, which usually runs throughout March to August each year’.
In March, Plymouth Council ignored protests to cut down 110 trees in the city centre as part of a £12.7 million regeneration project. An injunction halted the work, leaving 16 trees standing.
The council is now holding an independent review of the decision-making process and council leader Richard Bingley resigned ahead of a vote of no confidence.
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