‘Wildlife corridor’ bid for land earmarked for homes

AN EXPERT in biochemistry has detailed an alternative idea for how a Sheffield wildlife haven could be protected.

Councillors recently refused to allow Avant Homes to build 200 new homes on Owlthorpe Fields, land earmarked for housing for around 30 years but which has since flourished with greenery and wildlife.

Dr Patrick Harrison, who was born and brought up in Waterthorpe and is a lecturer in biochemistry at Hull University, spoke against the scheme at the planning meeting and has outlined an alternative idea.

He says the land would be better used as part of a two-mile wildlife corridor, starting at Owlthorpe Fields to the newly created wetland corridor that runs from Woodhouse Washlands to Holbrook.

Dr Harrison said: “The premise of the corridor is borne out of ideas developed for the creation of Waterthorpe Park where ecology, health and education are linked to create a space where the local community can use for their physical and mental wellbeing whilst being a giant outdoor classroom for local schools to underpin learning at all levels of the curriculum.

“It will require ambitious collaboration between various stakeholders such as Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, community groups, schools, numerous council departments along with our universities but many of these connections are already in place. It now requires political will from Sheffield Council to accept the new realities of the world and the longer term benefits of such a scheme in terms of social care costs, education and biodiversity gain.”