Leeds youngsters donate wildlife shelters to local development

Scouts and Beavers from the 17th South West Leeds Scout Club have built three hedgehog shelters and two insect boxes, while students from Leeds College of Building have also designed and crafted two insect boxes.

The completed shelters were handed over to representatives from 54North Homes this week, ready for installation at the development on Wesley Road in the Armley area of the city.

The £5.1 million development, which is being built on brownfield land previously owned by the Diocese of Leeds, is located on the southern end of Wesley Road, near St Bartholomew’s Church and is expected to be completed in February 2026.

The scheme comprises 26 houses and two flats built to a high specification. 22 homes will be available for social rent and six for shared ownership and have been built with air source heat pumps to provide heating and hot water.

The hedgehog and insect shelters will be placed amongst the mature trees, gardens and landscaped areas that compliment this new development.

The Scouts were invited to participate by Ashfield Projects (Yorkshire) - the main contractor working at the site who wanted to engage with the local community. The Scouts hut is located directly opposite the development and they were only too happy to get involved. The invitation was also extended to students at Leeds College.

All of the materials were donated by a local branch of Travis Perkins and the Scouts and students were given expert tuition by experienced joiners who have been working at the site, to ensure the shelters were built to the specifications advised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Joanna Chambers, Director of Assets & Growth at 54North Homes, said: “There are a number of sustainability features incorporated into the design of this development – not just in the new homes themselves but the surrounding local environment. As part of our biodiversity plan, we want to encourage local wildlife to visit the site so these hedgehog and insect shelters are a perfect addition to the scheme and I’m sure the new residents living in these homes will welcome them.

“It is important to engage with the local community throughout the whole development phase as it increases their understanding of the development and you never know, they may become residents of the new homes in future. We are delighted to receive these new shelters and I would like to thank the Scouts and Beavers from 17th South West Leeds Scout Club and the students from Leeds College of Building for their kind gesture. I hope they enjoyed making them and have learned more about this development.”

Joel Ramsden of Ashfield Group commented: “At Ashfield Group, we are proud to support both biodiversity and the local community, while also investing in the development of the next generation of construction professionals. We are always looking for meaningful ways to demonstrate our commitment to environmental and social engagement.

This project provided the perfect opportunity; it gave students and scouts valuable hands-on experience, helping to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. It enabled young people to develop practical skills, build confidence, and gain a deeper understanding of sustainable construction practices, all while delivering real ecological benefits.

“The close proximity of the college and scout hut to the project site also allowed us to reduce our carbon footprint, aligning with our goals for environmental responsibility.

“The scouts and students have done an amazing job, and we are extremely proud of their efforts.”

This initiative reflects Ashfield Group’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, education, and local partnerships, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling environmental challenges.

Nick Ladley, Group Lead Volunteer from 17th South West Leeds Scout Club, said: “Our Scouts rose to the challenge and they worked as a team, with the help of adult volunteers. It gave them valuable experience of learning the art of drilling, measuring and screwing the shelters together and to understand the impact their work will do for the environment and helping the creatures to survive in nature.

“This project helped them to gain their DIY and teamwork badges as part of their silver and gold chief scout awards and we thank 54North Homes and Ashfield Group for giving us the opportunity. We look forward to seeing the new shelters being used.”

£700,000 of the funding for the scheme is coming from Leeds City Council. This money is being drawn from Leeds’s commuted sums funding stream, which supports affordable housing delivery using pooled financial contributions paid by developers as part of planning agreements. All initial tenancies will be offered to people on the council’s housing register.

Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said: “New homes aren’t just places to live, they also have an important role to play in the creation of inclusive and thriving communities.

“I’m delighted, therefore, that the work at Wesley Road has paved the way for a very positive piece of engagement activity with local youngsters and students.

“I’d like to thank all those involved for the efforts and expertise they devoted to a project that was hopefully a really rewarding experience.

“The wildlife-friendly shelters and boxes will be a lovely addition to the gardens and greenery at Wesley Road and are a great illustration of how a commitment to sustainability and biodiversity can help shape many different aspects of a development such as this one.”

The homes have been designed by Brewster Bye Architects, the building contractor for the scheme is Ashfield Projects (Yorkshire) Ltd and BWA acted as employers’ agent.