THE RSPB has presented staff at a new housing development with a ‘Silver’ award for its wildlife-friendly show home garden in Crimchard.

To be in the running for the coveted Wildlife Show Garden Award, Barratt Homes included a range of features in the outdoor space of the show home at Blackdown Heights that supports and enhances nature and natural habitats.

This included a hedgehog highway and home, native hedgerows, a pond, dead wood feature, and compost bin.

Nicki Reid, sales director at Barratt Homes Exeter, said: “We’ve enjoyed a unique, nine-year national partnership with the RSPB - Britain’s largest nature conservation charity - which supports and provides us with tips, advice and guidance.

“We’re determined to be the leading national sustainable homebuilder and we’re committed to creating places where nature can thrive.

“As a group, this includes hedgehog highways on our developments going forward, and the aim is to include 2,000 swift boxes on our developments by December 2023.

“We want to ensure we’re doing that bit extra to retain and build upon natural habitats and the RSPB ‘Silver’ award for Blackdown Heights assures new and existing buyers of our ongoing commitment to enhance biodiversity here.”

Blackdown Heights is a new development of two, three, and four bedroom homes.

With considerable open space and a new play area, Blackdown Heights has been designed from the outset with the environment in mind.

Not only that, but the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is less than 15 minutes away, providing endless scope for walks and relaxation on your doorstep.

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