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Colony of ants rehomed to make way for new Humberstone development

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An entire colony of ants had to be found a new home after they were discovered on a building site.

Developer Hazelton Homes, which is more used to building houses for humans, had to create a new habitat for the insects in Vicarage Gardens in Humberstone, Leicester, where the company is building 11 new homes.

The ants were moved as part of a long list of ecological works agreed with Leicester City Council in return for planning permission.

So far five anthills have been successfully relocated to Humberstone Community Gardens with the help of ecologists, along with frogs, toads and smooth newts from around the pond at the development.

The scheme of ecological works also involved creating bird boxes and encouraging bats to nest in roof ridges in the new homes.

Hazelton Homes has also designed bat-friendly street lighting or Vicarage Gardens and created passages for hedgehogs to wander between the new gardens.

Commercial director Richard Hazelton said: "We're used to moving newts and frogs and accommodating birds and bats but this is certainly the first time we've needed to find a new home for an ant population.

"Thankfully they could be accommodated at the community gardens just a few doors away so it was relatively straightforward task.

"To be able to move all the existing wildlife safely and successfully is a fantastic result."

Colony of ants rehomed to make way for new Humberstone development


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