Aston Clinton residents take on Bovis again in hedgerow row

Bovis have been under pressure over their proposal to remove a hedgerow which is home to up to 66 of the 'red' listed house sparrow

Red listed means that the bird is the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action.

100 residents attended a meeting on 2 march who were against the proposal.

Jeanette Baxter, an Aston Clinton resident said: "Bovis constantly stated at the meeting that they had no firm plans and did not know when work would start on the site. We are now asking them why they are rushing into removing 88 metres of the hedgerow on Monday 6 March, without considering other options first."

"At the meeting it was also agreed that District Councillors were going to have discussions with Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Highways Division of Bucks County Council to explore the possibilities of leaving the entire hedge in place until later into the development works, which would allow the Red Listed house sparrow and other birds to have this current nesting season undisturbed."

Bovis have now given the Councillors 3 days in which to attempt to achieve a satisfactory compromise.

A well-respected ornithologist, Lee Evans, surveyed the hedgerows said “The hedgerow remains the prime property of the House Sparrow population and as of 2 March 66 were counted. The birds clearly use the hedgerow as a prime roosting site with 3 core areas.”

He also appealed to Bovis to “Spare this hedgerow for this endangered bird.”

Two of the ten cornerstones of Bovis Environmental Management Policy state that they “Respect people” and “Protect and wherever possible improve the environment”.

Residents of Aston Clinton will be attending from 7.30 am on Monday 6 March at the hedgerows in an attempt to persuade Bovis to halt the works.