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Representation by Butterfly Conservation (Butterfly Conservation)

Date submitted
2 January 2019
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses

Butterfly Conservation wishes to be an Interested Party at the forthcoming examination for the following reasons:

  1. We wish to ensure that effects on chalk grassland and hedgerow habitats that currently support wildlife interests, and especially butterflies and moths, are fully accounted for as part of the proposed development, and follow the principles of the mitigation hierarchy to limit any adverse effects, and provide for their mitigation and compensation as appropriate.
  2. There is a very substantial opportunity for creation of chalk grassland habitats along the road corridor and adjacent to Parsonage Down that would make a meaningful long-term contribution to wildlife conservation as a lasting legacy of investment in transport infrastructure. There is potential to create an effective habitat link between the western and eastern parts of Salisbury Plain SSSI which would be difficult if not possible to achieve in any other way. Butterfly Conservation's view is that, properly implemented, the chalk grassland creation would be on a scale unparalleled in western Europe, and would make a substantial and long-term contribution to the conservation of chalk grassland habitat in the UK.
  3. The design principles that underpin the proposed chalk grassland habitat creation are simple. However, the scale of habitat creation requires an unprecedented level of innovation in landscape design and implementation, and in soil management and materials balancing, for a major engineering scheme in the UK. It will only be successful if there is thorough commitment to the vision throughout the design and construction teams, and driven by its leadership.
  4. Butterfly Conservation wishes to support that vision and has expertise and experience to bring to the table on landscape design and implementation of chalk grassland creation, of soil management during construction, and ongoing habitat management, as well as in community engagement to realise the vision. This was for a much smaller road scheme on the A354 in Weymouth. The A303 project team has already benefited from visiting that scheme, and the offer remains open to support the project team, and its contractors and subcontractors, to ensure that these proposed environmental legacy benefits are delivered.
  5. Butterfly Conservation will wish to make written representation in support of the scale of chalk grassland habitat creation as proposed.