News: September 2003

English Nature, the government's chief wildlife adviser, say that new housing developments could improve the natural environment in agricultural areas that have seen the worst of the arable farming revolution.

Speaking at the British Association Science Festival, Dr Keith Porter suggested that low-density housing with gardens and plenty of open public space would be preferable to giant pesticide-treated arable fields which have resulted from arable farming practices of the last 50 years.

"By placing housing in these areas with innovative designs you can build in the corridors and the linkage the wildlife need to come back in." He said that such development "would be certain to increase biodiversity."

Jonathan Amos. 2003. More homes 'will boost wildlife'. Viewed on the web at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3093768.stm on September 9th 2003.