Numerous wildlife inhabits or regularly visits the site where the new town would have been built, and its immediate surroundings. Many of the species listed below are in decline, or even red-listed.
Threats include the considerable increased noise (both during the construction phase and after buildings are occupied), the loss of land (including farmland, hedgerows and clumps and belts of native trees) and an inevitable increase in light pollution. All of this would have also impacted the nearby woods.
The 2022 draft plan referred to providing "wildlife corridors" and a "green gap" between Adisham and Cooting, but only in vague terms, and regardless, huge habitat would have been lost.
The proposed "Country Park" at Womenswold would not have compensated for this.
The argument is sometimes made that wildlife will "just move", but it is fast running out of places to move to, as evidenced by the many animals and birds that call Adisham home.
Kent Wildlife Trust objected to the inclusion of Adisham New Town in the plan:
it is highly likely to have a significant negative impact on Ileden and Oxenden Woods SSSI and ancient woodland… development adjacent to the woodland will result in increased recreational pressure on the woodland resulting in tramping, disturbance of species through visual disturbance and disturbance from dogs.
Birds
Look up how the local bird population has changed in Adisham (or wherever you live) since 1970 on the BTO website.
Some people in the village use the BTO's BirdTrack app to log bird sightings.
The Merlin Bird ID app listens to birdsong via your phone's microphone and suggests species in realtime.
More common garden birds
You'll observe many of these walking along the footpaths by the hedgerows and arable fields too.
Other Mammals
Try the iRecord app for logging mammal sightings - the records are monitored and you'll often get a response.
Credit