Plans for new pond and woodland area in Crudgington approved

A pond and two bunds to be created on the Rodwaymoor Plantations off Crudgington Moor Road in Crudgington

A new pond and woodland area is to be created in a Shropshire village as part of a wildlife habitat improvement project.

Telford & Wrekin councillors approved the plans for the scheme in Crudgington, funded by Severn Trent and the Environment Agency.

The land has been a poplar plantation and the landowner was now felling the trees in favour of wildlife.

It is hoped the work will help insects, amphibians, wading birds and mammals.

The plans are for a pond and two bunds (embankments) to be created on the Rodwaymoor Plantations off Crudgington Moor Road.

Applicant Stephen Trowbridge said that the plantation has an existing pond which is known to support amphibians.

The site is encircled by drains of the River Strine which will also be enhanced and the funding has been provided to compensate for the damage caused through water abstraction.

Wetland species

A biodiversity statement from Shropshire Wildlife Trust said: "The woodland will be planted to create wide rides of large trees such as oak and then intersperse with smaller tree species such as guelder rose and hazel. This will create a vast diversity of habitat types.

"The proposed site for the pond will be left to create large, open, margins of wetland species to create a corridor between the pond and surrounding woodland."

Telford & Wrekin Council approved the scheme after a planning officer concluded that the scale and design was "acceptable and would not harm the character and appearance of the application site and its surrounding area".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.