The Redrow housing estate was heath land not so long ago – a Brownfield site, and that’s why I was cycling there - a bit of the heath remains – now only accessible through the new housing estate.
Continuing my conversation with saleswoman I am alarmed and disgusted to find out that what remains of the heath land (under Section 106 of planning I assume – she was very vague about this… hum…) will be for the pleasure and recreation of the new homeowners only. She went onto say
“There will be NO local access
It is to be private – a part of the estate
Each homeowner will be paying an annual fee for management of the heath”
It is to be partially landscaped too …

LCC Local Development Framework, Development Plan Document Core Strategy deals with “key environmental, social, and economic considerations in order to address Liverpool’s challenges and opportunities…”(www.liverpool.gov.uk/images/tcm21-63863.pdf)
Anyone wanting to read the whole paper - feel free – but for a quick fix on the subject of open spaces and biodiversity – check out pages 29, 114, 116, 120, 154, and 175
Further more, Cressinigton Heath appears in Schedule 8.1 of Chapter 8 Open Environment LCC, as Site of Nature Conservation Value and has been selected as a potential Local Nature Reserve
But - if what saleswoman told me is true - apparently not for the existing community – only the new Redrow home owning community
I later found out, in conversation with a young gentleman in Garston centre, that the heath had been highly valued by the local community – mostly dog walkers, and young people using the heath as playing fields.
So here we appear to have a Brownfield site that had a community value – a value for experiencing nature –
But it would appear that it is no longer a valuable commodity for the standing local community - but an exclusive opportunity to experience nature for those privileged enough to be the proud new homeowners in Cressington Heath…
I need to find out more about this... I have written hearsay, not confirmed facts

I couldn’t get back to the heath to tag the fence – but I evaluated it as a Red site
• Over an acre in size
• Fully vegetated
• Undulating land with areas of wet flush
• >25% tree cover
• >3 edible species, 10-25% cover
• Biodiverse, litter and debris free, and with additional features