Wildlife on the Vivary Green Wedge

 

It is well documented that deer, badgers, water voles, kingfishers, slow worms, and all manner of more or less spectacular species of wildlife make their homes on the Vivary Wedge.  The proposed development adjacent to the stream at Killams would separate the remainder of the Vivary Green Wedge from a ribbon of land carrying the stream from the motorway into the heart of Taunton.

A little Egret took up residence here a few months ago, and a local resident saw no less than three of these beautiful birds together at the same time only a few days ago.  This could well be the start of a colony – literally a fledgling colony that building works on the Vivary Green Wedge would destroy before it got off the ground.

The planners and politicians assure us that they will maintain a wildlife corridor along the length of the stream.  They fail to add that this narrow strip of soil and water will be cut through in places where roads and footpaths cross it, and that the rain water that currently drains from the agricultural land into the stream will become the water that has washed thousands of roof tiles, brick walls and other cementitious structures.  It will also contain anything and everything that is spilled, poured and sprayed on gardens, driveways and cars on the proposed development.  This run-off will be the drinking water supply for our local wildlife.

We are also assured by TDBC that they will preserve and protect the remaining remnants of the Green Wedge after the developers have all made their wedges.

Please don’t confuse GREEN WEDGES with GREENBACK WEDGES – they are completely different things!

If planners and developers were as concerned for our natural environment as they would have us believe, they would not allow ANY development on the Green Wedge.

We want wildlife living on the Wedge, not wildlife living on the edge!