Monday 25th June
A visit between 9am and 11am today - rain held off for most of the visit.
Still no sign of Water Vole in the usual place since the banks of the ditch by the divers car park bridge have been masacred.
PYRAMMIDAL ORCHID - WEST SCRUB
Good numbers of Swift around today. A few Meadow Brown, a single Ringlet and a lone Red Admiral were seen as well as a few Common Darter and Red Eyed Damselflies. Also one Grass Snake and 4 Slow Worm in the East Scrub.
WHITETHROAT
posted by Steve @ 2:10 pm
5 comments
5 Comments:
Please can you ring your local council, Steve, and tell them not to cut the banks until they've consulted with the local wildlife group about Best Practice? It's a criminal offence to disturb water vole burrows. Our local council, now they're in the loop, are very supportive.
Gents,
Can I say, this cutting back was done by the Inner Drainage Board, who are responsible for the ditches. They have undertaken maintenance work without our knowledge or consent. We have taken the opportunity to install the post & rail around these areas as part of Our water safety strategy, but also to deter members of the public from causing any further disturbance. There is still good vole activity down there! Also Mallard & Moorhen chicks.
Phil
Sorry Kate!!
Should have said - Ladies & Gents.
Phil - thanks for your response here. I am glad you are still seeing Water Vole activity there. It is unbelievable that they can do such a thing without informing you first - have you let them know that this is unexceptable in the future...as Kate says ot is a criminal offence to disturb such a scarce animal. I find it hard to believe they haven't been affected by the work.
It's reassuring to hear about the voles. Isn't it infuriating, though, when you set up procedures and then they're ignored? I hope the Inner Drainage Board have now been made aware of the situation. There's a link on my blog that explains the law quite clearly if you need to locate the information.
Round our local brook some contractors - I never found out who thery were because no one would admit to it! - scraped the banks bare back in February. I thought that was it, but the voles came back and now the area's very lush. Then again, they didn't do the work during the breeding season!
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