A wildlife corridor on the Azalea development in Medstead is thriving thanks to the collective efforts of East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds’ staff, local naturalist Diana Tennyson, and residents of the estate.

Their work began in 2019 when they teamed up to ensure developer Bellway Homes installed bird and bat boxes on its new houses, plus shelters for animals to hibernate, as part of its planning permission.

Diana said: “It took three years to ensure that the wildlife corridor did not become a neatly manicured, green open space, which is what Bellway were sure residents preferred.

“With the help of resident Lorraine Potter and her husband, the wildlife corridor now resembles a wildflower meadow, and has inspired other residents to create wildflower areas in their gardens.”

Other firms joined in to help enhance the site for nature. Maintenance company Trinity donated 750 bulbs, and Imperial Homes. which developed a small site off Holland Drive, donated flower seeds.

Diana, who is also a writer, conservationist and tree warden co-ordinator for Medstead, Four Marks, Chawton and Newton Valence, added: “A university student also visited Azalea.

“They wrote to Lorraine: 'I found the wildflower meadow you have there to be quite interesting. When I went by yesterday I counted six different plant species from just a brief walk around it, and saw multiple bees and the occasional butterfly. I overall found it to be quite fascinating and beautiful due to the wide variety of plant life found there which is supporting the local pollinator populations. I will most likely include it for my research.'

“It was sad to lose so many trees, but eventually 11 were protected. It is not often that I say this, but this development looks better now than it did pre-development when it was mostly grazing for a few local horses.”