Notable Recent Sightings

29/05 Pink-footed Goose 1, over Welshpool, photo'd on 09/06
01/05 Red-throated Diver 1, Llyn Clywedog
07/02 Whooper Swan 44, Lake Vyrnwy
31/01 Whooper Swan 51, Haimwood, Llandrinio
17/11 Firecrest 2, Castle Caereinion
07/11 Barnacle Goose 1 among Canada Geese, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas
07/11 Hawfinch a few, Lake Vyrnwy, also Bramblings
01/11 Short-eared Owl 1, Cefn Coch Wind-farm
01/11 Great Grey Shrike Gregynog
28/10 Great Grey Shrike Lake Vyrnwy, also 1 on 30th at Eunant
25/09 Gannet 1 juv grounded near Caersws
07/09 Nightjar 1, photographed near Pontrobert
17/07 Quail RSPB Lake Vyrnwy, also heard 20/06 and 08/07
24/04 Long-eared Owl 2, RSPB Lake Vyrnwy
16/04 Purple Heron 1, Cors Dyfi
05/03 Firecrest 1, Lake Vyrnwy
05/03 Short-eared Owl 1, Lake Vyrnwy
14/01 Pink-footed Goose 1, Dolydd Hafren
03/01 Waxwing 20, Meifod; also 5 Welshpool by canal on 01/01. Last: 6 Bwlch-y-Garreg 17/03
   
See Sightings Archive for older records

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Proposed Hedgerow Removal at Chirbury

A friend of mine forwarded an email regarding proposed hedgerow removal at a farm just outside of Chirbury.  Some of you maybe already be aware of this, but here is a summary and some relevant links to further information.


Hedgerow removal at Chirbury

An application has been lodged with Shropshire Council for the removal of over 11km (7 miles) of hedgerow at Chirbury, close to the Welsh border.  Thirty-seven individual fields will be lost if permission is granted, which will result in one vast 150-hectare field. 

Hedgerows are one of the defining features of the countryside and are vitally important to wildlife.  A recent survey of a single stretch of an English hedge revealed the presence of 1,671 species including butterflies, moths, bees, birds, small mammals and numerous invertebrates.

The hedgerows also form part of the distinctive character of the landscape.    The Vale of Montgomery has great beauty and historical interest and the field network is one of its most valuable elements.

Loss of hedgerows would have an adverse impact of the Camlad river.  Increased siltation would occur and further pollution be caused as a result of pesticide and phosphate run-off.

You can access further details on our website from this link: further details.

Make your views known
Shropshire Wildlife Trust has lodged a formal objection to this application.  If you share our concerns for these hedgerows, please send your comments to Dougald Purce, the planner dealing with this case, dougald.purce@shropshire.gov.uk, by Thursday 17th January.  It would be particularly useful if you quoted some of the policies and legislation mentioned in our objection. 

For further information about this case see the relevant page on Shropshire Council’s planning portal.
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous10 January 2013 at 15:38

    The farmer at the centre of the planned Chirbury hedgerow and wildlife massacre apparently likes the vast vistas of Idaho where farming is done on the grand scale. Hopefully the opposition of the people and councils of Wales and Shropshire will stop him turning his new farm (bought last year and now one of seven) plaything into a mirror image of the mid west of the USA.
    Andrew Sceats

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nigel Davies14 January 2013 at 00:53


    So,he has seven farms. What's that got to do with it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nicole and Brian Foster16 January 2013 at 17:53

    Nicole and Brian Foster.16 January 2013.
    It seems an abomination that 11.393 kilometres of hedgerow near Chirbury could be removed for the convenience and the profit of a commercial entreprise. Friends of the Earth, ramblers, farmers, and any nature lover will have a poorer quality of life once this valuable landmark is destroyed: wildlife is thriving within its rich domain, bringing peace and harmony to the Vale of Montgomery.This landscape is unique.
    Please, stop the planning application !

    ReplyDelete

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