Fears have been raised that a huge housing development in Piddletrenthide will happen after a multi-million-pound purchase of the 827-acre Lyscombe Farm by Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England.
The acquisition of the 827 acres of chalk downland and farmland was the most expensive land purchase in the history of Dorset Wildlife Trust and made possible from Natural England’s Nutrient Mitigation Scheme and National Nature Reserves funding, alongside donations from trust supporters.
A government statement reads: “Thousands of new homes for development are to be enabled in Dorset thanks to the government backed Nutrient Mitigation Scheme.
“The scheme will enable around 3,700 new homes to be built in the catchment over the next few years whilst protecting water quality. By securing nutrient mitigation at Lyscombe, the scheme will enable new homes to be built in the catchment whilst protecting numerous rare birds such as avocets, spoonbills and black-tailed godwits from additional pollution that affects their precious habitat within Poole Harbour.”
Brian Bleese, chief executive at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “The acquisition of Lyscombe is an excellent example of a blended finance initiative, bringing together statutory, charitable and private funding to deliver benefits for nature, people and sustainable development.”