New wildlife homes have been created for reptiles and amphibians that need to be relocated from a housing development near Lowestoft.
Ahead of the next phase of Persimmon’s housing development at Woods Meadow in Oulton Broad, East Suffolk Services Ltd has helped create new shelters at Woods Meadow Country Park for reptiles and amphibians which will be relocated from the construction site.
Working alongside Persimmon and ecologists, a team from East Suffolk Services Ltd constructed artificial habitats, known as hibernacula.
They will provide reptiles and amphibians with a safe place to overwinter, bask and feed and will increase the biodiversity of the country park.
One of the shelters comprises a log pile placed on top of rubble and covered with subsoil.
This will eventually become overgrown and provide a place for reptiles and amphibians to overwinter and to catch the sun to allow reptiles to bask.
The other two habitat constructions consist of piles of rubble topped with a thick layer of subsoil.
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In the depths of these, and under the layers of soil, cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians will be able to keep warm during their autumn and winter hibernation.
In the summer, the south-facing side will offer a place to bask and hide from predators.
Woods Meadow Country Park is owned by East Suffolk Council and was created in 2019.
Rachel Smith-Lyte, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Woods Meadow Country Park was created for the benefit of both wildlife and people living nearby with a wonderful green space to enjoy, as well as offering opportunities for learning and volunteering.
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"The new hibernacula will help mitigate the habitat loss caused by the housing development and will help the country park continue to meet its objectives of providing a home for wildlife.
These habitats will also enable visitors to the park to learn more about reptiles and amphibians."
The Woods Meadow development consists of hundreds of two to five-bedroom homes.
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