Locations of Nightingales recorded so far in 2026 vs development land

 

 

 

Every spring, along the hedgerows, scrub and footpaths surrounding Partridge Green, one of Britain’s rarest and most celebrated birds returns to breed: the nightingale. Their song can still be heard here during April, May and early summer, often at dawn and dusk. Very few places in the UK can still claim this. Nightingale numbers have collapsed nationally over recent decades as the dense scrub and edge habitat they rely upon has disappeared.

This remaining landscape around Dunstan’s Farm, Greentree Lane and Littleworth forms a connected wildlife corridor of bramble, hawthorn, hedgerow and rough field margins that provides vital nesting and breeding habitat for nightingales and many other protected species.

Despite repeated local objections, the Gladman development at Dunstan’s Farm, comprising up to 120 homes, has now been approved. A further major housing development is also being proposed on neighbouring land nearby.

Taken together, these developments threaten to permanently fragment and urbanise the remaining habitat surrounding Partridge Green through land clearance, construction, lighting, traffic, noise and increased human disturbance.

Local residents remain deeply concerned that ecological surveys connected to these developments have failed to properly reflect the current and growing presence of nightingales in this area and the cumulative impact successive developments will have on their long-term survival here.

Once these habitats are lost, they cannot simply be recreated elsewhere.

 

This petition calls on Horsham District Council, developers and environmental consultees to urgently reconsider the cumulative ecological impact of these developments and take meaningful action to protect the remaining nightingale habitat around Partridge Green before irreversible damage is done. Withdraw approval for the development of the Land Parcel at 519686 119483 Shermanbury Road Partridge Green West Sussex - currently 'Dunstans Farm'  and block any further development to the adjoining area. Please support the petition and help protect one of the last places in our area where nightingales still return each year.

 

Find out about the approved and proposed developments threatening our wildlife:

PROPOSED: Wain Estates: 70 new family and affordable homes on land off Shermanbury Road, Partridge Green, currently 'Dunstans'
https://www.weconsultations.co.uk/partridgegreen

 

 

 

APPROVED: Land Parcel at 519686 119483 Shermanbury Road Partridge Green West Sussex - currently 'Dunstans Farm'
Horsham District Council Planning Portal Ref: DC/24/0428