Leeds wildlife

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Mon 05 May, 2008 2:29 am

HiI am currently battling to save the habitat of some local wildlife. Namely newts in this case. I live near to Clayton Woods / Quarry just off the outer ring road at West Park. I recently took some photos of the newts which live in some spring fed ponds in the centre of the quarry. A development company called the Burford Group have been relentlessly submitting planning applications to develop the quarry into an urban village scheme which does not include preserving the newts habitat. Indeed they have already made an attempt to destroy the ponds by driving earth moving equipment through them and they stripped over 20 years worth of wild plant / tree life in the quarry. Prior to their exercise in defoliation the quarry was a real urban nature reserve. Now it looks like somewhere a nuclear bomb has gone off. Check out my pictures on FLickr to see the newts.http://www.flickr.com/photos/12267018@N00/2466260870/

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Mon 05 May, 2008 11:47 am

jonleeds wrote: HiI am currently battling to save the habitat of some local wildlife. Namely newts in this case. I live near to Clayton Woods / Quarry just off the outer ring road at West Park. I recently took some photos of the newts which live in some spring fed ponds in the centre of the quarry. A development company called the Burford Group have been relentlessly submitting planning applications to develop the quarry into an urban village scheme which does not include preserving the newts habitat. Indeed they have already made an attempt to destroy the ponds by driving earth moving equipment through them and they stripped over 20 years worth of wild plant / tree life in the quarry. Prior to their exercise in defoliation the quarry was a real urban nature reserve. Now it looks like somewhere a nuclear bomb has gone off. Check out my pictures on FLickr to see the newts.http://www.flickr.com/photos/12267018@N00/2466260870/ good on yer jonhave you got the support of the local comunity behind you?? ps/your flikr link dosen't work mate

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Mon 05 May, 2008 12:35 pm

I'm not having much support from the local community, the problem is that the quarry site is kind of inbetween council wards and its surrounded by woods on all sides. Half of the people who have heard of the development are all for it, cos it wont affect them personally and there is some mickey mouse scheme that Horsforth will get a second train station / park and ride. The problem is people are all for saving tigers and pandas etc cos they see them on BBC wildlife programmes but when it comes down to our own flora and fauna people get all apathetic. Makes me wanna scream!

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Mon 05 May, 2008 12:38 pm

Why doesnt my html work? I will try again!<img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12267018@N ... otostream/"> nope, you will have to copy and paste the website address if you wanna see the newts, its:http://www.flickr.com/photos/12267018@N ... ostream/if anyone knows how to post pictures using html in this forum please let me know as its driving me mad!

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Mon 05 May, 2008 12:40 pm

Yippee! I have found out how to add pictures! Surely it would be better to just show the pics via a link to my webspace tho! Anyway enjoy this picture of a newt!Johnny

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 05 May, 2008 1:06 pm

jonleeds wrote: Why doesnt my html work? I will try again!<img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12267018@N ... otostream/"> nope, you will have to copy and paste the website address if you wanna see the newts, its:http://www.flickr.com/photos/12267018@N ... ostream/if anyone knows how to post pictures using html in this forum please let me know as its driving me mad! This has happened before - I think you'll find it is the @ within the address which causes a problem; can't remember the fix though!

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Tue 06 May, 2008 7:29 pm

Is the picture i took of the newt which I have posted above visible to other people? I used the add attachment facility in the forum.ta!Johnny

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Tue 06 May, 2008 7:34 pm

Yup!

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Tue 06 May, 2008 9:53 pm

Yes can see the pic, and it looks like the The Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris) Smooth Newts are protected by law in Great Britain against being sold or traded in any way.but if you can spot a great crested newt in that location that is a differant matter, Because of the massive declines in range and abundance in recent years, the Great Crested newt is strictly protected by British and European law, which makes it an offence to ...Kill, injure or capture them;Disturb them in any wayDamage or destroy their habitatPossess them or sell or trade them in any way