1 week Ago
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and his film director wife Sam had faced public outcry over plans to excavate a huge lake in the grounds of their historic home just over the Wiltshire border. Retrospective permission was granted papers show - and an inspection carried out last week has given the go ahead for the pond to continue operating with 'no issues' raised. Some of the couple's closest neighbours say the British actor - widely tipped to become the new 007 - has done wonders in bringing birds back to his farmland in the Mendip hills.
Taylor-Johnson was said to have accepted the role to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Sean Connery and Roger Moore in media reports last year. Although he is yet to formally accept the role, he is still among the heavy favourites to replace the outgoing Daniel Craig. Aerial pictures show the huge scale of the pond at the farmhouse, that the celebrity couple bought from Grand Designs host Kevin McCleod.
Neighbours say they've not seen as many birds flocking back. Neighbour Amy Fukuyama wrote: "I live to the west of the fields belonging to Great House Farm and am overjoyed at the prospect of the increase to biodiversity in our area. Recommended reading: Sir Ed Davey embraces adorable farm animals in Wiltshire visit High street business celebrates 30 years in town centre New planters installed following controversial bench rollout "I can see the ponds from my house and very much welcome the change to the view and monoculture.
"Since the ponds have been constructed there has been a noticeable increase in bird activity. "We now regularly see, and hear, flocks of geese flying over and can hear a Tawny Owl on occasions which I don't recall hearing before. "I recently attended a talk by another local rewilding enthusiast in which he spoke of the flocks of 100 plus Goldfinches which now visit his re-wilded farm and I fully support any application which would encourage such activity in our area.
" Another neighbour Darren Tune added: "Previously the field were monoculture providing very little habitat and this is better use of the field as it will increase the biodiversity of the area. "My home looks over the field and my land buts on to the field, I can see the pond and I consider the construction noise was not intrusive." Ty Schlechter wrote: "It will be wonderful to see and hear wildlife in the village especially around the Great House and I wish to support their endeavour which can only help improve the local environment especially against localised flooding.
" In approving the plans, which were under the banner of a 'flood alleviation scheme, planning official Jane Thomas wrote: "The proposal is for the creation of a number of new wetland features to attenuate the flow of these spring-fed water courses across the proposal site and the wider estate. "The proposal will reduce the risk of flooding from these water courses that has threatened the fabric of the grade II listed farmhouse on a regular basis and also has resulted in regular flooding of the highway along Leigh Street. "Additionally, the proposals will deliver a significant net gain in biodiversity across the proposal site and the wider area.
" Some locals had initially feared the one-acre lake was going to be used for open water swimming, but the retrospective application outlined the two areas of water were wildlife ponds. The couple insisted the measures were needed to prevent flooding of the 16th century five bed Grade II listed home..
