PLANS to turn former farming land into a wildlife reserve have been submitted for approval in an area of Green Belt land.

If approved, it would see land previously used for grazing sheep in Pits Lane, Hartshead Moor, transformed into a haven for wildlife, with a large bund around the perimeter of the site which overlaps between Kirklees and Calderdale.

In the plans, application Ailie Fan said the new reserve would be purely for nature and not for visitors to enjoy.

The plans state: "The reason for the change of use is to increase the biodiversity of the field. It is not intended to be a tourist attraction or allow public access."

The two-metre tall bund would be created using material excavated for the creation of ponds on the 1.2 acre site which in part would create new habitats for wildlife, with native shrubs along the perimeter of the field which runs alongside roads Halifax Road and Walton Lane.

The plans say this would "provide an extra wildlife corridor for the creatures living in the existing hedge and also disguise the bund from the road."

In her application Ms Fan said: "The field is currently of little value commercially or to wildlife, it is recorded as agriculturally improved grassland.

"The proposed development would create wildlife ponds of varying depths and use the excavated earth to form a bund with a maximum height of two metres parallel to the road on two sides of the field.

"A substantial amount of trees, shrubs and plants would be introduced to provide a variety of wildlife habitats and encourage an increase in biodiversity.

"The development is for personal use, not for tourism or public access, therefore no additional entrances or parking spaces are required."

The plans add: "In conclusion the bund and ponds would not distract from the openness of the greenbelt, on the contrary it would visually enhance the currently plain agriculturally improved field both and more importantly there would undoubtedly be a significant high biodiversity net gain.

"In addition to the large number of shrubs and trees to be planted all the fauna and flora colonising water would be a completely new addition to the site this demonstrates a very special circumstance."

The site doesn't sit in the Wildlife Habitat Network for either Kirklees or Calderdale, with the nearest sites sitting south at Willow Valley Golf Club, and eastwards at Hartshead Manor.

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