The Issue

 Wildlife Corridor 

Location: between Woodfield Plantation and Dominion estates in Balby, Doncaster

When the developers, Keepmoat, were granted planning permission to build the Dominion estate, provision was made for a wildlife corridor between the 2 estates running the length of Aintree Drive and most of the south side of Blossom Crescent. Much emphasis was placed on the existence of the wildlife corridor by Keepmoat when marketing these houses, and the people purchasing the adjoining houses on Blossom Crescent, did so considering this as an advantage and presuming the status would be protected.

Since early 2022, when the houses on this part of Blossom Crescent were completed, various residents on Aintree Drive have illegally taken possession of parts of the wildlife corridor to extend their gardens for personal gain. Activities that have taken place:

• Erection of high fencing

• Removal of mature trees

• Removal of a diversity of other plant life

• Installation of hard standing

• Dumping of uprooted vegetation, construction waste and earth on remaining sections of the corridor

Removal of the mature trees and other plant life significantly reduces the available habitat for a variety of animal life, most notably birds, and destruction of the continuous nature of the corridor affects other passing wildlife such as hedgehogs and foxes. The location of a corridor creates an environment for wildlife to flourish in an area that would otherwise be dominated by development.

It has been established that the owners of the land in question is The City of Doncaster Council, and therefore they have a clear obligation to investigate this behaviour. This has been acknowledged by the council.