An ecologist is furious a wildlife site in Brierley has been 'trashed' and is calling for it to be better protected.
Pete Middleton, said the species-rich Brierley Meadows Wildlife Site, off Brierley Road, has been ruined after about 40 per cent of it was ploughed, 190-metres of hedgerows were removed and two hectares of scrubland cleared. It is unknown who was responsible.
Mr Middleton, who helped get the land designated as one of Barnsley Council's local wildlife sites, was told about the damage by the authority's bio-diversity officer.
Mr Middleton said it is an important area in the borough and when he saw the state of the site he felt 'physically sick'.
"The meadows are species-rich and in summer are full of flowers, consequently it is one of the last remaining such sites left in Barnsley," he said.
"When I went down to the site I felt sick because I was the one who got it designated.
"Unfortunately, these sites have a limited amount of protection and they should have full protection because it's such a good site and is full of flowers, particularly Yellow Rattle and Eyebright species.
"What I am angry about is I discussed the situation with the council's bio-diversity officer to see if anything could be done to prevent the rest of the site being trashed.
"He told me that he doesn't have time to deal with it.
"But it needs urgent action to stop the rest of the site going the same way, protecting it should be the first priority."
