CONTROVERSIAL plans to remove gorse from a Suffolk golf club could threaten biodiversity in the area, it has been warned.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to remove gorse from a Suffolk golf club could threaten biodiversity in the area, it has been warned.

The Trustees of Rushmere Common want to clear parts of Rushmere Heath and allow heather and grassland to expand.

But the �99,500 plans have been opposed by Rushmere Golf Club, and now nature-lovers are worried about the impact the move could have on the under-threat linnet.

Alec Suttenwood, of Ipswich Wildlife Care and Rescue, said: “The gorse has been there for a long time and it has become an established habitat for linnets, a bird we haven't got a lot of.

“They like the protection the gorse gives. They are nice big, dark bushes which are not too damp. It is also an ideal habitat for insects.

“It would do serious damage to the linnets to take away the gorse.”

However, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who are in support of removing some of the gorse from the heath, say that a partial clearance would help the linnet bird thrive.

They say that the expansion of heather and grassland would also encourage new wildlife to develop.

Steve Piotrowski, who is an advisor to the trust, said: “Linnet birds are one species the trust are very concerned about. However the birds like to nest on the edge of the gorse and wouldn't do well on a great mass of gorse.

“There needs to be a balance of gorse. We wouldn't recommend removing the entire gorse.”