New Hreod Parkway will destroy wildlife habitat

John Ball on the Hreod meadow

In reaction to the proposals to replace Hreod Parkway School with new buildings on an adjacent site, John Ball from Grange Park, who voluntarily set up and runs wildFlowers-And-Butterflies(FAB) at The Haven in Cheney Manor, which is dedicated to developing butterfly friendly habitats in Swindon, says that the project will consume another important area of green space.

"There are still a few meadows in Wiltshire where, in mid-summer, you disturb clouds of butterflies as you walk along. Swindon still has some of these increasingly rare areas, in amongst the housing estates and factories. In a good butterfly year, they provide an awe-inspiring experience.

Several fields off Akers Way have been classified 'County Wildlife Sites,' but Swindon Council is about to build a school on half of one of them. What hope is there for an important wildlife area and amenity experience for people, when pitted against the forces of development?


Location of the new Hreod parkway site

The adjacent old school site is going to be redeveloped for housing. Part of it could be a car park for the new school, rather than destroy more meadow land.

Being born and bred in Swindon, I have seen our greatest asset, the enormous areas of wildlife-filled green space, being frittered away, bit by bit, as the money value of building tempts councillors and developers to replace it with more bricks and concrete.

The short-term financial gain seems larger (at the time) than the gradual loss of what makes Swindon so attractive and prosperous, the green lungs. All new towns have this problem, but if you look at Milton Keynes, they did something about it. They put all their parks and amenity land into a trust that looks after it, for the people of the city are forbidden to sell it.


The model of the new Hreod Parkway which will start this Autumn.
(Note the existing site footprint in the background)

This permanence ensures public trust and support and avoids politicians and people fighting over green spaces that footballers or developers want to build on. Their green spaces will stay green forever. It's an obvious solution for Swindon.

As founder of the FAB (wildFlowers And Butterflies) concept, with the aim of turning Swindon into the butterfly capital of Europe, I would dearly love to know which spaces will stay green for posterity, so that I can make those abundant with wildflowers and associated insect life. Wouldn't you too ?


To find out how you can turn your garden or any area around your home into a butterfly friendly habitat, email John : jball2@ntlworld.com