HOUSEBUILDER Crest Nicholson has encouraged wildlife to visit its Grange Meadows development in Cannington by installing hedgehog highways and bee hotels.
The initatives aim to protect wildlife and encourage biodiversity at the 73-property development near Bridgwater.
The highways will allow hedgehogs to roam freely at night away from roads while the bee hotels - designed by Elmtree Garden Contractors in Bristol - will provide a place for solitary bees to rest and lay their eggs.
The development will include other initiatives to increase biodiversity including bird and bat boxes, hedgerow and tree planting, and lighting designed to minimise disturbance to bats and other wildlife.
Clare Bramble, sales and marketing director for the south west, said: “We pride ourselves in building communities at Crest Nicholson, and that includes looking after the wildlife in and around our developments.
“Bee hotels, hedgehog highways, and other features such as bat boxes all play a part in providing a refuge and safe corridors for animals, helping us make a positive impact on the environments in which our residents live in.
“We hope the initiatives give residents the chance to grow an even greater appreciation for the wildlife on their doorstep.”
Paul Lynch, managing director at Elmtree Garden Contractors, added: “We are delighted to support Crest Nicholson in the creation of the bee hotels at Grange Meadows. With hedgehog and bee populations in rapid national decline, measures like this will aid their recovery.
“The bee hotels, fixed to the top of a post, attract solitary bees which fly past with their pollen.
“The hotels provide them with a space they can make a nest and lay their eggs – not only are the bees happier as a result, but they benefit our biodiversity and ecosystems through the pollination of plants.
“We’ve installed a number of bee and other insect hotels at a range of Crest Nicholson developments, including here at Grange Meadows, knowing we are helping nature do its thing!
“Alongside this, we also plant high-pollen plants such as lavender, which provide bees with the nutrients they need to feed themselves and their young and a resting place.
“This in turn helps make the garden more attractive to our little friends.”
Crest Nicholson's Grange Meadows show home was unveiled earlier this month, with the first residents expected to move in this summer.
The development is situated near the M5 and is close to outdoor spaces including the Quantock Hills, Bridgwater Bay, and Dunkery and Horner Wood Nature Reserve.
Prices for four-bedroom homes start at £365,000, while five-bedroom homes start at £425,000.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here