A scrubland area that forms part of a site earmarked for 350 new homes has been fenced off, sparking the outrage of a neighbour fighting to preserve it as a wildlife haven.

Hopkins Homes has erected “temporary fencing” around the area off Nursery Drive in North Walsham, next to the North Walsham Garden Centre, in a move it says is to protect the public. 

North Norfolk News: The new fencing along Nursery Drive in North WalshamThe new fencing along Nursery Drive in North Walsham (Image: Avril Smith)

But Avril Smith, who lives next to the site and led a campaign to have the woodland area excluded from the development, said she was devastated to see the fencing go up.

READ MORE: Part of North Walsham development site to be fenced off

A Hopkins spokesperson said: “We have undertaken the erection of temporary fencing and signage in order to protect the general public from hazards on site, including historic fly-tipping and dense vegetation.”

READ MORE: Not enough shops to support 350 homes development, locals argue

North Norfolk News: A muntjac deer grazing in Ms Smith's yard, which wildlife can no longer access from the scrubland area because of the new fencingA muntjac deer grazing in Ms Smith's yard, which wildlife can no longer access from the scrubland area because of the new fencing (Image: Supplied)

But Ms Smith said the barrier was having a detrimental effect on wildlife, including badgers and bats, which used the area.  

She urged Hopkins to think twice about including the scrubland in their plans, as it was only a small part of the overall development site.  

Ms Smith said: “This small area is rich in biodiversity - the very thing we should be saving.  They have a large field to build on - no complaints - but they want to destroy this for half a dozen houses.

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“This woodland, on one evening last July, had over 1,400 recordings of bats - Hopkins want to put up a few bat boxes on the houses they build.  

“The badgers have young at this time of the year and this activity should not have taken place.”

Hopkins said the fencing did not require planning permission, but North Norfolk District Council had been consulted “in full” and had raised no objections to it.

It will be down to the council’s development committee to decide if the new estate can go ahead.

Hopkins wants to build 343 homes, leave seven plots for self-build homes and construct a care home for the elderly.