A HOUSEBUILDER has been recognised by a national wildlife charity for providing a home for nature on its sites.

Barratt Southern Counties was been awarded gold status by the RSPB for its housing developments in Sussex.

The housebuilder, which has showhome gardens at Saxon Mills in Hassocks, Wychwood Park in Haywards Heath and Chalkers Rise in Peacehaven, has an ongoing partnership with the RSPB to ensure wildlife can safely co-exist with new residents at its developments.

Each of the developments has integrated a range of wildlife-friendly features including bird boxes, hedgehog homes and highways, bee hotels and composting facilities.

Sales director Lynnette St-Quintin said: “We are proud of the six-year long partnership between Barratt and the RSPB, which has seen us achieve so much in our mission to give wildlife a home at our developments.

“We hope our show home gardens inspire new homeowners to make their gardens wildlife-friendly too.”