Heartbreak as 1,000-year-old hedgerow cut down for housing development

Coun Roy Butler, aged 75, is a resident from The Hawthorn estate, a small residential area adjacent to the new development in Warsop.

The Warsop Parish Council and Green Party member is opposed to the development, close to the River Meden. which was given the go-ahead by Mansfield Council despite strong local opposition.

He said: “This development has caused so much chaos and heartbreak.

“Many people have come here to enjoy peace and tranquillity, as many elderly people live here with it being on the outskirts of Warsop.

“It has always been a pleasant place to live.

“It is less populated for now and surrounded by a natural landscape.

“I regularly venture down the path to walk my dog, watch the fish in the river and enjoy the wildlife right on the doorstep.

“Many of us have been actively opposing this development for years – I am a keen environmental campaigner and feel passionate about wildlife and the environment.

“You could often see all sorts of creatures here and that has decreased since the development started.

“A neighbour’s mother was brought to tears when she found out about what had happened to this hedge – it just looks a mess up there and there was really no need to take out such a key part of history.

“The hedgerow added to the natural beauty of the path and also housed birds and wildlife.

“I think it is disgusting how this whole development has been handled and how people of Warsop have been ignored yet again.

“Thousands of years of history have been savaged.”

A spokesperson for Barratt Homes North Midlands and David Wilson Homes East Midlands said:

"In line with the approved planning permission, partial removal of the hedgerow has taken place to allow access to our Stonebridge Fields development.

"Together with further improvements to Sookholme Lane.

"The works were completed following an ecological survey to ensure no wildlife habitats were affected in the process.

“We are committed to helping nature on our developments, assisted by our ongoing partnership with the RSPB.

"As part of this, Stonebridge Fields will feature numerous bat and bird boxes, planting for over 200 additional trees, together with approximately three kilometres of new hedgerows.”