North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson recently met with representatives from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Crest Nicholson on a walking tour around the Nature Park at Tadpole Garden Village.
This was an opportunity to explore the progress at the park, identify future plans and to see first-hand the benefits for the environment, wildlife and local residents.
The area forms part of the vital 13 mile environmental corridor between North Swindon and Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve, and is managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. The Nature Park sits on land which was protected to ensure both a green buffer as part of the Tadpole Garden Village development, and to secure land for wildlife habitat, biodiversity net gain and carbon off-setting. The Nature Park, as well as adjoining areas of Tadpole like the Stray remain very popular as a local beauty spot. Wildlife is abundant in the meadows, with deer, birds and insects thriving, and plant life rewilding parts of the former farmland.
The collaboration between Justin, Crest Nicholson, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Swindon Borough Councillors at the planning stages for Tadpole Garden Village has been instrumental in securing the land around Tadpole for the Nature Park. Owing to the efforts of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the area has benefitted significantly from habitat restoration, extensive meadow planting and Additionally, the WWT has been running educational programmes in local schools around the local ecosystem.
Justin Tomlinson MP said:
"I am delighted with how Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have been managing the area. I believe areas for wildlife habitat, biodiversity as well as recreation should form the blueprint for other developments and this is a fantastic example of that. Looking forward we have also been exploring how we can work with the WWT to help secure the long-term use of the former golf course site in Highworth both for local residents and the environment."
