Campaigners against plans to build 4,500 homes on green fields are using evocative pictures of the threatened landscape to raise money to fight the project.
They said the rolling countryside around Barkby, Barkby Thorpe and Thurmaston – which has been earmarked for the homes in a proposed plan by Charnwood Borough Council – will disappear if the development goes ahead.
Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Parishes Action Group (Babtag) has produced the book of photos of views taken by member Nick Toms.
Owen Bentley, chairman of Babtag, said: "Particularly poignant is the sunset picture of the 'ballerina' tree, which stands guard in the field next to a current development of 150 houses on the border with the city on the road to Barkby Thorpe."
He said the picture of the tree and the photo-book were being auctioned at a fund-raising dinner in Barkby village hall this evening.
He said: "We hope to raise £1,500 from the event, which will go towards the costs of hiring transport consultants to better oppose the unwanted new town."
"We want people to realise what a loss this productive countryside will be if it is ever replaced by a new town that will bring traffic gridlock to the area."
Charnwood Borough Council is due to publish a final report on the traffic impact of the proposed development on Friday.
It will be part of the evidence to be considered in the preparation of a borough-wide planning document called the core strategy.
A spokesman for the council said: "Residents will have a chance to tell us whether they think the plan is the right one for Charnwood during a consultation period after March."
