BIRD scaring devices put up near a new housing development have been defended by Redrow Homes.

Marlborough residents noticed shiny tape appearing along hedges by walkways at Cherry Orchard, an area popular for bird watching but say that wildlife is being scared away as the developer moves in.

Redrow is currently building 172 homes on the site off Salisbury Road.

One resident said: “They have erected bird scaring tape in an effort to stop the birds nesting.

“Some of these birds are not common and include goldcrests, Britain’s smallest birds, and flocks of goldfinches.”

Matt Grayson, a spokesman for Redrow, said: “The planning permission for the development allows for the road network to pass through parts of the existing hedgerows on site so we are taking every measure possible to minimise and mitigate any environmental impact.

“All necessary ecology surveys and reports have been agreed with Wiltshire Council and approximately one third of the site has been dedicated as an ecological mitigation area.”

“This is a large area to the south of the site and is in addition to other areas of retained hedgerows and open space elsewhere in the development.”