It has always been interesting to note societal trends of moving between rural and urban areas of the UK. In fact, it’s the same in almost every country around the globe, but of particular import is how these trends affect the building market in the western world.
Within recent years the trend has been leaning toward relocating to rural areas of the UK and as a result, there is a greater demand for homes which is keeping homebuilders particularly busy. If you are an environmentalist at heart, you may wonder what building a home in these rural areas can mean to the local wildlife native to the land. Can building a home on undeveloped land impact the local environment and if so, in what ways?
Primary Reasons for Rural Trends
Before looking at how building a home can impact local wildlife, let’s take a glance at why the trend in today’s society is leaning toward relocating to rural areas. While the stagnant and toxic air of big cities is a huge consideration, the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has added to a desire to live in less populated areas. Combined with a desire to live in cleaner, healthier areas, the pandemic has simply added fuel to the fire.
In 2008, Parliament passed the Climate Change Act which is aimed at lowering the nation’s net carbon by at least 100% of that measured in 1990. The target date is the year 2050. As a result, there is a huge amount of interest in electric vehicles, but the nation’s largest cities are still suffering under extreme carbon emissions.
With this in mind, it’s time to think about what we might be doing to the environment by escalating new builds in rural areas. Can building homes in these less-populated regions have a negative impact on the environment and most especially, to the wildlife of those regions?
How to Determine the Impact on Local Wildlife
In a moment we’ll look at ways in which building homes can have an impact on wildlife but perhaps the best place to start is with the experts in the field. Unless you are a builder, you may not know that government has clearly defined regulations for building structures in light of the local environment. The Environment Act was passed by Parliament and went into effect in November of 2021.
This means that before planning permissions can be granted, a property must have had an ecological survey and probably a habitat regulations assessment by certified professionals such as those from Ecology Surveys. They will conduct a preliminary ecological appraisal when required in order to determine the cost to the local wildlife habitat home building would create.
As you can clearly see, everything points to the conservation of everything from natural resources to native wildlife and plant species. It is becoming increasingly evident that we have pillaged our natural resources and wildlife to such an extreme that many species are becoming extinct, if not already so. So, let’s look now at how building a home can impact local wildlife.
Prior to Construction
One of the things a preliminary ecological assessment can discover is what tearing down an existing building can do to wildlife in the area. Birds, for example, are known to nest and winter in abandoned buildings. Many are unable to vacate the building before it’s torn down and of those that can get out, many cannot find suitable places to relocate.
Then there are those animals and insects that live and burrow in the ground that would be killed or displaced once construction begins. You may not understand the benefit of these below-ground dwellers but suffice it to say that they are vital in aeration and irrigation of the soil.
Also, sometimes the land to be developed is the grazing or running ground of animals such as deer, foxes, or wolves. Even rabbits can get displaced when building a home in undeveloped rural areas. Native plants can be destroyed and those trees so necessary for the production of oxygen can be a significant loss to the air quality. All these things must be considered prior to construction.
Mid and Post Construction Impacts
Consider for just a moment the impact of all that loud machinery and the bright lights when operating after dark will have on wildlife that hasn’t been displaced in the area. Many will flee in fear. While many of these species are known to be migratory, they don’t migrate until seasons or other factors necessitate movement. Sudden noise and light and human activity can send them off too rapidly to find places safe for relocation, which is causing unnecessary loss often hastening extinction.
Once a home is built and deer begin running, they are often at a loss because their herd has been following the same paths for years on end. You’ve heard stories of a family being awoken at night by a loud bang on the side of their home. It is often the result of an animal running into the side of their home, obstructing their path.
It Doesn’t Take a Naturalist to Understand the Impacts
In the end, you may not be a conservationist or a naturalist to care about the plants and animals native to the land upon which you’d like to build. However, you can understand that flying and earthbound insects are vital to plant life which in turn is vital to animal life, inclusive of humans.
It is sad that the world has come to a point where government needs to enact legislation to protect the environment, but it’s a reality, nonetheless. The average person just doesn’t understand the impact each of their actions has on the ecology, but it is that very environment that enables them to live and thrive.
Before building a home, take a few moments to consider the impacts on local wildlife and plants of the region. Most of the time you will be able to get those planning permissions, but if not, a few modifications might be all that is needed.
All life on earth is symbiotic and this is why it is important to fully understand how building a home can impact the local wildlife, which in turn is essential for your survival. That’s the bottom line.
