The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Mr Angry of Tonbridge has just been for a short wander around Louth dodging the showers (some of you probably thought dodging something else) and thinking about nature reserves old and new.

Katherine's mention of dogs on nature reserves deserves some serious discussion. In the good old days there were no dogs on reserves of any type, whether county trust, RSPB or whatever. In fact access to many of the reserves was by permit only. We had to join a long list of organisations to see many of our less common or rarer species. Nowadays due probably to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the EU everybody and his/her dogs seems to have access to many reserves. More and more reserves have access via public footpaths and bridleways, is that a good idea? Guess my thoughts on the matter.

Reserves are getting bigger, a very good idea, fantastic, wonderful, please give us more, but each one comes with a silky smooth car park (not good) and a visitor centre. A good thing indeed, but does every reserve need a fancy visitor centre? Does every large reserve need to be an education centre also? Do we need to be guided and informed every step of the way with blot on the landscape signs? Do health and safety signs belong in the outdoors? Surely one warning sign at the front gate of everybody's home is sufficient? Warning! Danger of real living beyond this sign! Does each new reserve need to be promoted like Blackpool Pleasure Beach? Are they nature reserves or country parks? Should dogs be allowed anywhere near them? Are reserves for nature or people? Seems to be the balance has tipped in favour of people. How to squeeze as many people as possible on to a few precious hectares and still give them something to look at.

To me the wild aspect is being removed in favour of easy access for all, another case of lowest common denominator taking over. What do forum members want of nature reserves? Wild or tame, one size fits all, with a nice cup of tea at the end of it. Speak up or forever hold thy peace.

Adi - have a nice day

By the way a few photos of a recent Lincs Birders on Tour trip to Ontario have started to appear on my photo site - link below. Many more to follow as will a trip report (but not by me).

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For the most part I think I feel the same way as you....

Dogs - NO! (whether responsibly walked or otherwise)
Caffeteria - Nooo! (but how many reserves have to be run on a commercial basis?)
Info.signs - not really (OK, maybe one at a site entrance)
Car Parks - hmm, I must admit I do appreciate these.
Access for all - Yes, when it makes sense (as a member of the disabled fraternity again I appreciate being able to get into the 'heart' of any reserve but wouldn't agree with a concrete path through the middle of a marsh for example).
Model aeroplanes/kite flying - nooo, isn't there a better place for this activity?

I must admit I do like my reserves wild and with few people but having said that when visiting Gib. Pt. I nearly always pop into the cafe for a pot of tea and a homemade cake, very nice.
Geoff

I prefer the 'everything on one site' option, so, when I've been filled with all the wonders of the reserve, I have my apres-twitch cup of tea and a scone or something and then, whilst still inspired, pop off to the shop and info centre to buy some souvenirs and bird stuff for the little 'uns in the garden.

As long as it's tastefully done like at Titchwell, then I don't see a problem with it. At least it's not Skegness seafront with neon flashing lights and bins overflowing with polystyrene chip containers, instead it's bins overflowing with all sorts of views of avian niceties and the like......

And can we please, PLEASE have at the very least a small block of toilets at EVERY RSPB reserve? In the 21st century, surely it's time to do away with the 'furtive, strategic and swift deposit at the end of the Spit whilst nobody's around to see the indignity' approach to things?

In reply to Katherine, I've been to RSPB reserves in the south of England and three more not a million miles from Scunny and all have excellent toilet facilities. Can't speak for any other RSPB reserves.

In rely to Adi, I wish that MSQ had a "silky smooth" track leading to the car park. It's started to get pot-holed again.

I prefer less people the better, that's why most of the time I go to out-of-the way places, be it a reserve or not. I always take one or two flasks of drinks and plenty to eat. So not bothered if there is a cafe etc. Cafes attract people!

The more remote a place the better, better not mention them on here or they won't be remote

As long as the sun shines we will never get certain people to make sure their pooches behave.

I'll add some more tomorrow, it's late and I have an early start tomorrow.

Why not have a poll of all our members on the dog subject??????

Toodle loo

Adi,

Here's something that should make you sit up and take notice. A "Lincolnshire Echo" headline this evening (Wed):
'£50 million nature reserve planned for coastline'. The article continues:

' Plans are being drawn up to turn a wild stretch of Lincolnshire's coastline into a £50m green tourist attraction.
Councils and conservationists have teamed up to devise a blueprint for the new coastal country park.

They hope to turn an eight kilometre stretch of coastline between Sandilands, near Mablethorpe, and Chapel St Leonards, near Skegness, into a wildlife haven for tourists to enjoy.

It would feature a visitor centre, new footpaths, cycle routes and observatories where visitors could sit in comfort and watch wildlife in action.

It is hoped the project - based around Anderby Creek - would protect the stretch of coast from development, and boost tourism in nearby resorts.'

The article continues further but the main gist is as above.

Regards,

Freddy

"WILDLIFE HAVEN FOR TOURISTS" sounds like the type of place I will keep away from.

To me it sounds great.But would prefer it to be run as an RSPB reserve and not by any councils. I'd love a Titchwell in the area.
Geoff

Could it be money down the drain, unless most of it goes into protecting the coast from erosion, flooding, sea level rising etc. Or is yet another way for our farmers to be bailed out, notice the deliberate pun and large dollop of cynicism. Of course I know absolutely nothing about the project and could therefore be talking out of my derriere. Would I go there? Of course but probably never again. It would be marketed from here to Pluto, totally stuffed with grockles on weekends and absolutely, definitely, positively not my sort of place at all, but then I could still be talking from my nether regions. So where is my kind of "wild" place in Lincolnshire? Like Max I'm not telling, the last time I liked a place and talked about it, the planners moved in, ruined. Call someplace Paradise kiss it goodbye.

Adi

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Of course it might only be marketed from here to Uranus as Pluto is no longer classed as a planet. This gives me the chance for another pun.

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