Just north of Darlington, a swathe of farmland and forest adjoining community woodland is destined to be buried under a huge housing development. The 487-hectare Skerningham Garden Village is planned to have 4,500 executive homes.
The developers driving the scheme are Theakston Estates, whose owners, Martin Corney and his stepfather Ian Waller, are better known as two of the partners in the Teesworks Ltd joint venture on the old steelworks site at Redcar.
The land and trees at this nature haven are teeming with wildlife. Here are some photographs of the birds that will be affected. They aren’t the only wildlife under threat. The woods and fields are also home to deer, foxes, badgers, and many smaller mammals as well as moths and butterflies.
The public consultation on the Draft Comprehensive Masterplan has been extended, ending on Thursday 30 November.
