AN ANIMAL LOVING Barnsley MP has backed a petition to stop netting being used on hedges and trees which could cause serious harm to wildlife.
Dan Jarvis was sent a letter by wildlife campaigner Janet Mason, who asked him to raise awareness of ‘netting’ hedgerows and trees - which has been happening across the country - before it happens in Barnsley.
In areas of the UK there has been incidents of developers using netting over hedges and trees, trapping wildlife and birds - injuring them and even causing some to die. The process of ‘netting’ is also illegal if has been put up after March 1. Janet said she wants to raise awareness of what is happening elsewhere in the country ‘before it happens in Barnsley’.
“This should not be happening anywhere, but we definitely don’t want it happening in our borough,” she said. “I don’t want this to be happening here as Barnsley is a biodiversity town and it needs to be known before developers try to put the netting up here.”
In his reply letter to Janet, Mr Jarvis said he will be raising the issue in parliament and that he is an ‘animal-lover’.
“I absolutely share your concerns about how this netting represents a serious risk to the welfare of birds and small animals such as hedgehogs,” said Mr Jarvis in his letter.
“It is completely unacceptable for developers - attempting to avoid potential delays arising from nesting birds - from using this kind of netting. Whilst it is welcome that this kind of netting has not yet been used in Barnsley, we do need to take the necessary steps to prevent its introduction - including through changing the law on the use of this netting; and taking the appropriate steps against developers who breach future regulations.”
Mr Jarvis also thanked Janet, of Monk Bretton, who runs a hedgehog hospital Hedge-Hogwarts and has released more than 500 hedgehogs into the wild in Barnsley, for her work.
Janet said she is pleased that the petition to stop netting is getting more recognition.
“It’s great that Dan is backing this and will be getting the word out,” said Janet.
“Nets have started to be removed across the country. The message is spreading and we want to ensure it doesn’t come into Barnsley.”
