The planning application to build 99 houses on the threatened Woodgate site near Burbage has been rejected, with one of the reasons given that it would result in the loss of ecological habitats. However an appeal by the developers is expected... More...

Woodgate is a valuable wildlife area and the planning application has led to great efforts by the local residents, supported by NatureSpot, to collect wildlife records and show that it meets the criteria for designation as a Local Wildlife Site. These efforts seem to have brought rewards in helping to prove that the area is a valuable wildlife habitat but concerns remain that these findings will be tested at an expected appeal in May. Survey work will now continue to collect further data and in particular to establish which birds are breeding on the site.

The Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT) has accepted the following Local Wildlife Site (LWS) criteria:

• Significant breeding bird assemblages with at least 28 species of bird as either ‘probable or confirmed’ breeding on the site - exceeding the required minimum 40 LWS points.
• Snipe Gallinago gallinago, a very significant bird, has been confirmed on the Woodgate site. Should it be also be confirmed as breeding this will on its own convey LWS criteria status for the site.
• Wet Grassland - LRWT have now confirmed that a substantial section of the Woodgate site meets this LWS habitat criteria.
• Hedgerows - LRWT have also confirmed that the two main hedgerows, one north of public footpath and one to the north east of the site meet the LWS criteria standard.

These details have now been submitted to Sue Timms, Leicestershire County Council's Principle Ecologist, who it is hoped will include these findings within the LWS status for the Woodgate site. The Mesotrophic Grassland and Wet Woodland have already been formally confirmed as meeting the criteria.

Woodgate is featured as one of the 'wild places' on NatureSpot. It is a 4 ha mosaic of interesting habitats which include mesotrophic grassland, rough grassland and scrub, plus wet woodland - all of which meet Local Wildlife Site (LWS) criteria. Additionally there is a rare (for Leicestershire) flood meadow/wetland area of 6,800 sq meters which is hoped will also meet LWS criteria - but further records of plants are required. Over 60 species of birds have been recorded over the last 8 years  with up to 28 recorded as breeding on the site. Recent recordings of dragonflies/damselflies are proving to be significant with a possible rare Variable Damselfly seen over the site.