Skylark protection

[DaiTheDragon]

Found out today that there are 200 houses going to built on my favorite spot for photographing Skylarks and Stonechat. I know the Skylark is protected, but to what extent. Are they allowed to build where they nest. They have already started work there so even if I could have done something it's probaly too late.
I am not against new housing being built, I am just very dissapointed.

Dai

[ron1863]

Hi, sorry to hear about the skylarks as I really like them too. This site shows the status of the birds protection. Good Luck

B&BC BAP - Skylark Species Action Plan

[barquar]

I havent seen a skylark in ages, we used to have a lot on some ground just a short distance from my house but none there now.Its so sad That all the nesting places are being built on.
Barquar

[demicav]

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

Found out today that there are 200 houses going to built on my favorite spot for photographing Skylarks and Stonechat. I know the Skylark is protected, but to what extent. Are they allowed to build where they nest. They have already started work there so even if I could have done something it's probaly too late.
I am not against new housing being built, I am just very dissapointed.

Dai

That's a real shame and things like this do get me annoyed. I saw my first Skylark a couple of weeks ago and they're a beautiful Bird. So sad that the government has such little regard for our native species.

[Kayleigh]

We get skylarks nesting on farmland here..We also get Lapwings, Buzzards,Hares,Rabbits,Foxes and Deer. They are going to build 4000 houses on it in the near future..The councils don't seen to care if there is wildlife there or not. The land owners want a quick buck..

[Gill Catton]

right. Firstly Skylarks are a species of high conservation concern and a uk BAP species so the local authority has a duty of care towards them, they should have been considered at an earlier stage - most housing developments these days have to have at least an ecological appraisal and the skylarks may well have been considered in this - if you contact your local authority they should be able too point you in the direction of such an ecological appraisal because the general public should have access to the appraisal. It is very difficult to mitigate for the loss of skylark breeding habitat within a development, but perhaps they are making a contribution to the local wildlife trust for them to improve the situation for skylarks elsewhere - its not perfect but its something.

secondly skylarks are protected while nesting as are all birds. If there are skylarks beginning to nest in grassland that they haven't yet cleared but are working on they could definately run into trouble. Keep an eye on the situation is if looks like this is the case you can report it to the county ecologist or even your local wildlife liasion officer at the police.

Sadly there are very very few potential development sites with little or no wildlife interest, even brown ugly sites full of broken cars and derelict houses can be be amazing - sometimes sad though it is a field with a few skylarks on is the better option......

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

We get skylarks nesting on farmland here..We also get Lapwings, Buzzards,Hares,Rabbits,Foxes and Deer. They are going to build 4000 houses on it in the near future..The councils don't seen to care if there is wildlife there or not. The land owners want a quick buck..

It makes me so angry all this. A site not too far from me where lapwings and skylarks used to nest and golden plover used to winter has recently been obliterated. In the process, some lovely old 17th and 18th century farmhouses have also been swept away with total disregard for the area's local distinctiveness and heritage.

Regards, Chris