Kidderminster Harriers' proposal to construct several football pitches on nearby green belt land has met with opposition from nature campaigners concerned about the impact on a rare acid grassland habitat. The plans include four full-size pitches, three of which would be artificial, and two junior pitches.
Campaigner Kernohan stated that while he is not opposed to the creation of more pitches, he believes a brownfield site would be a more suitable location for redevelopment. He highlighted that Burlish Meadows, the proposed site, is an acid grassland, a habitat that is rare in Worcestershire and supports scarce species.
"There are some scarce species that you don't get in other areas in the county," Kernohan said. "One butterfly, the white letter hairstreak, occurs here, and it's one of the few places I know in Worcestershire where it occurs."
He also noted the presence of a rare plant, the tower mustard, which is found at fewer than 30 sites across Britain. "To lose such biodiversity would be be terrible," he added.
Owner Richard Lane of Kidderminster Harriers emphasized the potential positive impact of the new pitches on the community. "Every day, our academy and foundation coaches see the positive difference football can make through coaching, education and our work across the community," Lane said. "This proposal would allow us to build on that for many years to come."