Game, Set and Match

Norwich (in Eastern England) closed its last 10 public, grass tennis courts in 2017. The place rapidly rewilded itself, creating, by 2021, a meadow with 130 species of flowering plants. This diverse meadow was subsequently invaded by dragonflies (including rare species), crickets, hedgehogs, field mice and a number of bat species. In spite of local objections, the meadow has been bulldozed to build 3 large all-weather courts with floodlights and fences (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/15/wildflower-meadow-on-tennis-courts-bulldozed-by-norwich-council). The transformation is costing the local council £266,000 and the public are losing an appreciated amenity that cost them nothing. Objectors note that under-utilised hard courts for tennis are already available within easy travelling distance. They also say that the council's environmental impact assessment was flawed (e.g. they apparently checked for bats in daylight). The light-sensitive bats will not return to the area (nothing to eat, even if they could stand the glare of the flood-lights). It all seems a bit short-sighted, especially as rewilding is what councils and farmers are supposed to be encouraging.