[emf]

My back garden borders onto a large area of parkland. There has been a terrific amount of 'brownfield' infill going on in the area in the last couple of years. Old houses with large gardens being knocked down and blocks of flats being built in their place, taking up the whole of the plot of land.

I have noticed that the wildlife in my garden has increased considerably since the infill development started in earnest. So, I do all I can to encourage the wildlife. They have nowhere else to go. When you're hitting really high density housing (if the permitted minimum is 30 something per whatsit, we have areas nearby which reach 119 something per whatsit - serious overcrowding - the slums of tomorrow!). And, the more back gardens that are given over to housing, the bigger the detriment to our wildlife.

I think the really ironic thing is the 'payoff' developers give to the council when there's not enough garden left with these new blocks of flats so they give a one off payment to help the council with the costs of running local parks. Section 106 money or something like that.

I can see a time when no-one will have a garden at all. We'll all have to walk to the local park and be controlled and regimented in our meanderings through it. (Don't walk on this bit of the grass, no ball games etc.)

Hey ho!

Emf in cynical mode