CAMPAIGNERS battling to prevent 1,000 homes being built on Colchester's Middlewick Ranges claim skylark nests could have been destroyed when the grass was mowed down. 

Save the Wick fear nests were destroyed when cutting was carried out this month, despite skylark nests, chicks and fledglings being protected by law.

Six Colchester Labour councillors have written to the new Labour Minister of Defence about the allegations.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, whose Harwich and North Essex constituency covers most of the site, is also contacting the M.

He said: “The allegation is that the contractor has broken the law, and this is very serious.

“I am also writing to the Defence Secretary to ask him to look into this.

"But Labour councillors on Colchester City Council must be aware that if they continue to promote the idea of a housing estate on Middlewick, there will be no skylarks at all”.

Martin Pugh, the ecology expert for Save the Wick, said: “They continue to deny the presence of the nightingale and skylark.

“We all know the elephant in the room is the clearing of the wildlife ahead of the sale - it is directly related to that."

Mother - Photographer and campaigner Andrew Neil said that this Skylark was a mother looking for its children after the mowing

A spokesman for Landmarc, which has a contract with the Ministry of Defence for the Wick, said: “All RSPB advice about protecting skylark nests is followed at all times.

“The guidance recognises that hay meadows need to be periodically mown to sustain them, but to avoid harming ground nesting birds, mowing should be delayed until after the end of May.

"In the incident you are referring to, mowing was delayed by the tenant until July."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, which owns the land, said: “The grass must be mowed to reduce risk of wildfires and the threat this presents to neighbouring properties and occupants.

“We have taken account of RSPB advice which states meadows should be periodically mown to sustain them, but to avoid harming ground nesting birds, mowing should be delayed until after the end of May.

"Accordingly, work took place in July to mitigate the impact upon ground nesting birds."

Campaign - Save the Wick held a campaign day this SundayCampaign - Save the Wick held a campaign day this Sunday (Image: Save The Wick)

The spokesman added: “The MOD is in line with landowners nationwide with making hay at this time in the year. Regular mowing enhances and sustains the conservation of this site as well as facilitating its use for local residents.”

The spokesman also said tenants are asked to carry out a search for ground-nesting birds and mark any nests so they can be avoided during mowing, and raise cutting heads on the mowers to prevent any damage to nests which may have been missed during the ground search.