We are grateful to Dr Elizabeth Pimley, a member of LEGLAG, for the following contributions on ecological value of the area, and on protected species. She has also communicated her expert views to the local planning authority's Comparative Site

Assessment

The ‘Leckhampton White land’ on which development has been proposed represents an area of value to wildlife as well as local residents. I have highlighted a few features of the area that are considered to be of ecological value:

• • many veteran oak trees (like those in Lott Meadow) are suitable for use by roosting bats,
  • the numerous species rich hedgerows that provide commuting routes for bats and those hedges containing hazel and hawthorn which provide suitable habitat for dormice,
  • the dense hedgerows and lines of trees provide habitat for nesting and foraging birds,
  • the ditches around some of the fields have the potential to be used by great crested newts for breeding sites,
  • some of the fields support a range of wild flowers and grasses and provide suitable foraging habitat for bats and a variety of invertebrates and reptiles, such as slow worm and grass snake.

Protected Species

A review of the National Biodiversity Network Gateway reveals records for a variety of protected species near to the site proposed for development, which further highlights its ecological value:

• lesser redpoll within the area,
• northern lapwing within the area,
• spotted flycatcher within the area,
• tree pipit within the area.
• records of house sparrow within 1km of the area,
• records of great crested newts approx 2km SW and 3km E of the area,
• grizzled skipper butterfly approx 2km SW of the area,
• records of lesser horseshoe bats approx 3km SE and 3km E of the area,
• tree sparrow approx 3km E of the area,
• dormice records approx 5km SE of the area,
• records of pipistrelle bats within 7km S of the area,
• records of noctule bats within 8km S of the area,

It should be noted that the records found here represent a minimal account of the protected species found near the site as I have not consulted the Gloucestershire Biological Records Centre for more detailed and comprehensive records.