Proposed New Nature Reserve near Fairlop Waters - Help Needed

Please take a few mins to read this email which contains information about a wonderfully exciting proposition about a new local nature reserve in Redbridge Borough that is in the pipeline.

For those of you that follow the 'redbridge birdwatching' blog, or have read the yearbook, you will be aware that one of the 'top' birding sites in the borough is the GRAVEL WORKS SITE on Painters Road, Fairlop. I know many of you have been there. In spite of the heavy workings going on there this really is a wonderful local birding spot.

It is the home to several Brown Hare which breed on site, It has also had all of these benefits noted in the last year:


 * 1) Home of the winter Lapwing flock (up to 550 birds this winter, and the only flock in the borough)
 * 2) Home of the winter Golden Plover Flock (up to 148 birds this winter, and the only flock in the borough)
 * 3) The Boroughs largest population of wintering Snipe (usually well over 20 present, and occasional Jack Snipe)
 * 4) The only location in the borough where Green Sandpiper are (up to 8, usually at least 2 on site, for 10 months of the year)
 * 5) Good numbers of wintering wildfowl, (including the only place in the borough where Shelduck are regular)
 * 6) Good for Raptors, (Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Little Owl, Hobby all regular. Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Barn Owl, Buzzard all seen in the last 12 months)
 * 7) The only major site in the borough for grating waders (lat season we saw Whimbrel, Black Tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, several Greenshank, 7 Redshank, many Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and many more Green Sandpiper passing through)
 * 8) The only place in the borough where waders breed: last year 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plover, and 3 pairs of Lapwing
 * 9) One of 2 major sites in the borough for migrating passerines (the othe being Wanstead Flats). During 2009 up to 50 Wheatear, 50 Whinchat, 50 Yellow Wagtail, several White Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit and (not a passerine, but) Spotted Crake.
 * 10) The only place in the borough where Sedge Warbler breed, and 1 of only 2 or 3 sites where Reed Warbler Breed.

I could go on and on, and mention the wintering Stonechat, wintering Woodcockd Water Rail and a lot more but you get the picture... Also, due to the limited accessibility of this site at the moment (evenings and weekends only), most of the birds present are probably missed!

The reason for writing all this is that the Gravel Extraction in the current site is coming to an end, (they will be moving to a new site by St. Peters Church, Aldbrough Hatch). And LAFARGE the company that extracts the gravel, are struggling to find enough landfill. So a proposal is being made to designate the area (known as area D) as a local nature reserve. If this goes ahead (bare in mind a lot of persuading and grant seeking). the plans include:


 * 1) Small Car Park
 * 2) Bird Hides, walkway and panels to 'hide' behind
 * 3) Planting a good sized Reedbed (to attract more Water Rail, wintering Bittern, Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler and to increase the breeding success in the borough of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings that are all only present in single figures)
 * 4) To create a wetland habitat based on the existing layout of the works, that will benefit wildfowl and wading birds.
 * 5) To improve 7 kings water (that runs along the site), to include nesting areas for kingfisher.
 * 6) To create a nesting site for Sand Martin (that often prospect, but do not nest anywhere in the boroug at present)
 * 7) To plant more wet woodland adjacent to Hargreaves Wet Woodland to increase the excellent habitat there
 * 8) To protect the habitat that the Hares favour, and the wet meadow which is excellent on site.
 * 9) To re-introduce Grey partridge, and encourage Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting to return
 * 10) Potentially this site could become as important as Barnes, or Rainham if managed properly, and the conservation team are really behind the project.

The true value of the potential is unknown... perhaps we will soo have a heronry back in the borough here in the wet woodland, perhaps common tern will breed, perhaps the newly expected arrivals over the next 20 years will take up residence here (Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, GWEgret, etc...)

I will keep you informed in the monthly emails that i send out. But in the meantime we need your help.... To persuade the councillors that this is worth it, would be used by birders, and is vital for the wildlife (as other proposals may be made to return it to field, or even building.

Please take time to email a letter the following people. (Wether you are resident in the borough or not).

Cllr Sladden [mailto:loraine.sladden@redbridge.gov.uk loraine.sladden@redbridge.gov.uk ] Cllr V Cole [mailto:vanessa.cole@redbridge.gov.uk vanessa.cole@redbridge.gov.uk ] and Cllr Nolan, [mailto:suzanne.nolan@redbridge.gov.uk suzanne.nolan@redbridge.gov.uk ] Cllr Sladden and Cllr V Cole are Aldborough Ward Councillors, Cllr V Cole serves on the gravel working group (Only meets twice a year next meeting 25/2/10) Cllr Nolan is the Cabinet member with the Resources Portfolio. And please CC (not blind copy) [mailto:chris.gannaway@redbridge.gov.uk chris.gannaway@redbridge.gov.uk ] (from the Conservation team who is making this proposal and myself [mailto:redbridgebirdwatching@hotmail.co.uk redbridgebirdwatching@hotmail.co.uk ]

The letter can be short, and can include ALL or ANY of the information provided above. (Particularly those that indicate that this site is vital, and losing it could mean losing species in the borough)

Your own words would be better, but if you do not know what to write, please copy and paste the below.

Dear Cllr Sladden, Cllr Cole and Cllr Nolan

I recently heard of the proposals being made to designate Area D in Fairlop, where there is currently gravel extraction works taking place, as a Local Nature Reserve. I am very pleased to hear that the council is considering such a wonderful opportunity, as so much suitable habitat for wildlife is lost. Alreadly Redbridge Borough has lost many breeding species for which it was once a stronghold, and many others are just hanging on. The area proposed is probably the most important wildlife habitat in the borough, being home to Brown Hares, breeding Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover, and being the top site in the borough for 100s or 1000s of migrating birds.

The potential in this site is so breathtaking that it would really be a tragic loss for this habitat to be lost. If these proposals are not manifest, then potenially we could lose 10% of the species found in, or regularly passing through the borough.

As a local birder I am very excited about the prospect of regularly visiting this site when it is completed, and strongly urge you to do everything within your power to influence the decision makers not to make a tragic mistake, but to create a site of national importance, and of which the borough would be very proud.

Your sincerely

Reader, please make sure that you email this to all the 5 email addresses above. And please do this as soon as possible as the wheels are already in motion, and we really do not want flats on this site..

Thanks very much - please email or call me (07862 140777) if you have any questions

This request is brought to you VIA me, from Chris Gannaway (manager of the Conservation Team in Redbridge Council)

Regards

Daniel Erickson-Hull

Daniel Erickson-Hull, Redbridge Birdwatching blog@ www.redbridgebirdwatching.blogspot.com