20-07-2025
Action being taken after new play park was greenlit on precious wild meadow
A replacement wild nature meadow area is being created in West Swindon.
This comes after the controversial greenlighting of a new play park, which will be installed on top of an original meadow in the area.
In June, it was confirmed by West Swindon Parish Council that a new play area would be installed at Shaw Ridge in West Swindon.
The play area has been accepted by many residents, but some had opposed the plans because they felt there were other areas to build the park that didn't impact on nature.
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There were strong objections from the local wildlife group West Swindon Flowers and Butterflies (FAB Swindon), who have spent ten years cultivating the land that the proposed play park would be built on into a thriving wildlife meadow.
Before the meeting where the park was approved, the group posted on Facebook: "We believe there are other locations available that would not lead to the destruction of this valuable spot and would ask everyone who values this area to contact the Parish Council and let them know you would like them to seek an alternative location.
"We would really appreciate your taking this small action to help protect the meadow. it takes years of work to achieve these results, and to wipe it out on a whim is a travesty."
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Now, the voluntary group have announced that work on a new meadow has begun in West Swindon.
The new area will allow for wildflowers and butterflies to thrive again.
The group said: "Today (July 16) began the first step of creating another wildlife meadow area.
"The new meadow area is being created to replace the loss of a significant part of the current meadow to the new Shaw Ridge play park.
"West Swindon Parish Council, Steve and Andy did a great job this morning marking out and cultivating the new meadow area.
"This work is extremely important for the success of a new wildlife meadow. The cultivation of the ground will suppress the growth of the vigorous grass and allow wildflowers to thrive and flourish.
"West Swindon FAB is committed to continuing to improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity for our future generations."
It is unclear when work on the new play area in Shaw Ridge will begin, and so the original meadow remains intact, but the wildlife group are wasting no time ensuring that there will be a full meadow in West Swindon at all times.
