"A FIELD of wild grass ... is set to be dug up and moved as part of plans to build a new prison in West Lothian.
The entire field at Addiewell is expected to be uprooted and relaid at a cost of thousands of pounds after pressure from environmentalists. The massive operation was initially only expected to include rare orchids which grow on the land which has been earmarked for development. But following representations from Scottish Natural Heritage the entire meadow is now set to be moved a few hundred yards to land just outside the ... prison complex. ... landscaping experts have warned the project... has a limited chance of success. Moving the entire flower meadow is being recommended as one of the conditions of granting planning permission for the private-sector prison on a 35-acre site between Addiewell and West Calder. Around 500 square metres of field is expected to be moved at the expense of UK Detention Services, the private company which will run the prison. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) asked for the entire field to be "translocated" in order to protect the variety of plant life in the area... The orchids there are one of the best orchid populations in West Lothian and have been identified in the West Lothian Biodiversity Action Plan... the developer... identified a new home for the orchids in the northwest corner of the site. Moving the grass along with the orchids is thought to give the flowers the best chance of survival... Five hundred square metres of the Orchids will be moved to a site... on land owned by the prison, but outside the walls, so that they can be enjoyed by local residents... the land outside the prison complex will be left largely as it is, leaving a natural habitat." source : http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=2359762005 *********** regards, vb _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
