In AVDCs own study, they rated the areas around Bierton, Broughton, Hulcott and Watermead as:

• Boughton Crossing - HIGHEST value
• Noth of Bierton (Site C) - MEDIUM value
• Lowland flood medow (Broughton) - of HIGH value for its undisturbed nature

Compare these with the alternative:

• Southern Arc (Site D) - LOWEST value

The Bierton, Broughton, Hulcott and Watermead areas are havens for numerous species of important wildlife. The list inclides:

• Badgers

The Eastern Growth Arc is of higher value due to the larger number of badger setts

• Bats
• Birds

There are a number of Schedule 1 species that live in the area: Barn Owl, Hobby, Kingfisher, Little Ringed Plover and Quail.



A further 7 Schedule 1 species use the area in the winter: Avocet, Black-Tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, Merlin, Whooper Swan, and Whimbrel

Other very rare birds that live in the area are: Skylark, Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Turtle Dove, Grey Partridge, Peregrine Falcon, Little Egret, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Oystercatcher, Water Rail

• Great Crested Newts

In an AVDC report, Broughton Crossing and the area around Bierton are highlighted as important breeding grounds

• Otters & Water Voles
• Brown Hare

The following wildlife has been sighted in the open fields between Watermead and Bierton that would be destroyed with any building works:

• Kestrels
• Sparrow Hawks
• Badgers
• British Large Blue Butterfly

The Large Blue is fully protected in Great Britain and as such must not be disturbed, handled or interfered with in any way

This Eastern and Combined Growth Arcs building project puts this sensitive balance in danger of being altered for ever.

The AVDC comissioned report states the following about Broughton Crossing:

• Broughton Meadows is an area of grassland designated as a Biological Notification Site
• East of the site the small lane of Stocklake borders the County Wildlife Site (CWS) known as Three Ponds Meadow
• All of Broughton Crossing and the northern half of Site C are known to support a great crested newt population, and contain breeding ponds.
• The pond within the site is likely to form an important role in bridging habitat within a network of ponds that support a meta-population of newts
• The Grand Union Canal is a valuable wildlife corridor, providing foraging habitat for many species including bats and birds. It also supports a diversity of botanical and invertebrate species.

• The pond within Three Ponds Meadow CWS is considered to be of high ecological value, particularly because of the aquatic invertebrate species within the pond. The rest of the site supports a diversity of terrestrial botanical species for which it was originally designated.
• the River Thame. It is a valuable resource for wildlife and will act as a valuable corridor for many species including bats, riparian mammals, fish and invertebrates.
• Development to the North of Bierton may prevent colonisation of species such as water vole in the future.
• Ecologically important areas within the vicinity of Site D (The Southern Growth Arc) are lacking
• There are a number of ecologically important areas within the vicinity of Broughton Crossing
• Site D (The Southern Growth Arc) is different to the other sites in that there are existing road systems. As such it can be assumed that land take for supporting road infrastructure will be less for Site D (The Southern Growth Arc) than for the other sites.
• Broughton Crossing of exceptional value for Birds, and is rated as on of the top six sites for birds in the county

The AVDC Ecological assessment summarises with:

• Broughton Crossing has been evaluated to support the greatest overall biodiversity interest.
• Site C (Bierton) has appreciable interest
• with Site D (Southern Growth Arc) having the least intrinsic value for biodiversity.

The AVDC Ecological assessment concludes:

• As a result of biodiversity assessment for each of the three sites it is recommended that in the context of likely ecological impacts arising from development Site D (The Southern Growth Arc) is most suited to development>
• Site C (Bierton) supports a generally greater degree of interest than D (Southern Growth Arc)
• Broughton Crossing has the least potential for development due to its existing biodiversity interest