Wildlife trust 'horrified' by meadows sale plan

A wildlife trust has said it was "horrified" to hear about what it labelled the proposed destruction of a rare habitat in Worcestershire.

It comes after Wyre Forest District Council agreed in principle the proposed sale of part of Burlish Country Park, also known as Burlish Meadows, to Kidderminster Harriers Football Club.

A council spokesperson said the land being "considered forms part of the former golf course site" and Kidderminster Harriers said the land "did not include the Burlish Top Nature Reserve".

But Worcestershire Wildlife Trust has said it is urging councillors to "change their plans", with a spokesperson for the group saying: "Burlish Meadows should not be for sale."

Kidderminster Harriers' proposal was to develop 8.5 hectares (21 acres) of land at Burlish Meadows, a 40-hectare (99 acre) country park near Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.

Wyre Forest District Council said approximately 21% of the land was being considered.

Mike Perry, chief executive officer of the trust, described Burlish Meadows as a "really important green lung for both people and wildlife".

"Heathland and acid grassland are incredibly rare - we've lost over 90% of Worcestershire's heathland – so the destruction of a fifth of this land would be a huge loss for the wildlife that needs this kind of habitat but would also remove a large part of green space for people too.

"When Burlish Meadows Conservation area was formed, it was to provide an area for wildlife as well as for an accessible place for local people to use.

"This has helped to reduce visitor pressure on some of the more sensitive areas of this block of land."

He added: "Burlish Meadows should not be for sale at all. Kidderminster Harriers Football Club play an important role in the local community but this is the wrong place for such a development."

Kidderminster Harriers owner Richard Lane said: "This is an opportunity to create something that will have a lasting impact on the community."

He said the club wanted to "provide facilities that give more adults and young people the chance to play sport, develop new skills and enjoy being active".

"We know how important this area is to local people, and we fully respect that," he added.

"People can be assured that the Burlish Top Nature Reserve is not within the scope of these plans, which also only involve around 21% of Burlish Country Park."

Wyre Forest District Council will now seek the views of the public on the disposal of the land.

Formal consultation is set to run between 17 July and 14 August.

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