Fury over Environment Agency's work on Bottesford Beck
A WILDLIFE enthusiast is concerned over the scale of work the Environment Agency has carried out on leafy Bottesford Beck.
Large sections of the wildlife haven have been cut back as part of annual maintenance carried out by environment chiefs.
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Elizabeth Brown is angry after the Environment Agency cut down vegetation at Bottesford Beck.
But the work has angered Elizabeth Brown, of Messingham Road, who said she was incensed to find yet more of the beck's foliage had been removed.
She said: "Several weeks ago, massive areas of habitat were razored to the ground on the main walking side of the beck and at the weekend, while walking along the beck, I was yet again horrified to see that the bankside which had previously been left had also been butchered." She said the vegetation had been removed from the length of the bank.
"Why has this been done and especially at this time of year?" she said.
"The Beck is home to an assortment of different creatures and insects who lived in and fed on that habitat. It's home to kingfishers, possibly water voles, frogs, ducks and their young, moorhens, hedgehogs, bees, dragonflies, etc – they have lost their shelter, nests, homes and food."
Mrs Brown is concerned at the extent of the work and is keen to find out the reasoning behind it.
She said: "No soil has been removed off the sides as far as I am aware, so the excuse of possible flooding cannot be used as in scraping away some of the bank sides.
"Or is it just another misguided attempt at trying to tidy up nature?
"There are not many areas around here that are a haven for wildlife, so why on earth has this been done?"
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said the work was part of its usual maintenance to prevent flooding and conserve the water's fish.
She said: "It's an annual event which we have done for the past 20 to 30 years, removing the nettles off the beck.
"We have to take out the weeds and keep it clear to lower the flood risk and they also take up most of the oxygen in the water, so if we leave them the fish would suffocate.
"The team cut it back as much as they need to and habitats are something we bear in mind when we are doing it."
13 Comments
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by JOHN WILSON, HOLME HALL AVENUE.
Friday, August 20 2010, 8:30PM
“I am also worried about the erosion at the bridge down the path near the church.I Took photographs in July showing if the bank recedes much more i worry the Bridge will collapse,because the bank is all sand it will not be long before it reaches the wood exposing roots ,which if both happens could cause any kind of accident to humans or animals.I took my photo's to a council meeting and handed them to Mr.Whitely,not sure if anything is going to be done about this matter.I still have these photo's on my computer if anybody wants to see them.I have also sent 1 to the telegraph but whether it will be published i don't know.It would not take long to repair this situation if someone got on with it.”
by Liz, Bottesford
Thursday, August 05 2010, 8:26PM
“Just read your latest comment Amanda and it is fantastic that you are so committed to this well worthy Bottesford Beck cause. Thank you so much. I am still waiting for my E.A, DEFRA, NATURAL ENGLAND and WILDLIFE TRUST replies and apart from the E.A reply I too expect the advice to go along the 'law enforcement' route. Previous information I have been given is that a wildlife liason officer should be available within every police force.”
by Amanda, Scunthorpe
Thursday, August 05 2010, 5:48PM
“I still haven't had a final reply from the EA but I just wanted to add that if anyone does see a Water Vole, please take a photograph of it, preferably dated. I could kick myself that I haven't done this myself so far.
If I do not get a favourable reply from the EA - ie that they will not undertake this severe cutting next year then I will put up notices along the beck giving my email address so that anyone with evidence can contact me and I will take it to the law enforcement agency (Police - I had a reply from defra to say they should deal with any official complaint re breaking the
law.)”
by Liz, Bottesford
Sunday, August 01 2010, 10:30AM
“Just read in The Hull Daily Mail yday,dated 31/7/10,that Driffield in East Yorks., has received £20,000 from The Environment Agency towards improvement work on a chalk beck that runs through the town, I quote 'It is home to wildlife,such as water vole and kingfishers,and it brilliant that something is being done to enhance the stream for wildlife'. Our Becks habitat for such creatures has been destroyed by The E.A and yet Driffield is given £20,000 to improve their Beck by The E.A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Words fail me!”
by Hatchett Jack, Scunthorpe
Friday, July 30 2010, 9:17AM
“Think i'll take my young daughter vole spotting this weekend, followed by a strong letter to the EA who have no idea what they're doing.
Well done Liz and Amanda
Legal Status and Protection of Water Voles
Due to the major declines Water Voles receive legislative protection which was further strengthened from April 2008 . Water Voles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) under Section 9 which makes it a criminal offence to:
¿intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection;
¿intentionally or recklessly disturb Water Voles whilst occupying a structure or place used for that purpose;
¿intentionally kill, injure or take Water Voles;
¿posses or control live or dead Water Voles or derivatives;
¿sell Water Voles or offer or expose for sale or transport for sale;
¿publish or cause to be published any advertisement which conveys the buying or selling of Water Voles.
The maximum fine per offence is £5000 the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW) amendment contains a provision for a custodial sentence of up to 6 months instead of, or in addition to, a fine. Along with a lengthy development delay until an appropriate mitigation programme has been agreed and completed.”
by Liz, Bottesford
Thursday, July 29 2010, 7:55PM
“Thank you for all the comments. It is very reassuring to hear that there are others out there that care about Bottesford Beck wildlife also and about the destruction of their habitat etc., I dread to think what has been destroyed by this wildlife crime from The 'Environment' Agency. Many,many thanks also to Amanda for the action she has taken so far, i too feel that yes,that is the way to go re. water voles as they are indeed a protected species along with their habitat. I suspect that the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 may make interesting reading right now! My next email is to the EA and anywhere else that I can think of, also after that I think that Natural England may be interested in what has happened given that water voles after all do inhabit the Beck. They along with many other creatures now so vulnerable in a very public place. If anyone else out there is interested in saving Bottesford Becks wildlife, PLEASE, make a noise and we can hopefully prevent such a thing happening again. Thank you.”
by Amanda, Scunthorpe
Thursday, July 29 2010, 6:29PM
“I have had a reply from the EA, only to say that they will reply to me within 20 days. I think this thread will disappear before then.
The Water Vole issue may be the way to protect the wildness of the Beck for all wildlife so if anyone else has seen them please report it to the EA as this will add evidence to support that claim they are there.
The reference I have been given is 100729JR/17. The email address is enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk”
by Beck walker, Bottesford
Thursday, July 29 2010, 9:39AM
“Amanda, I too have seen the Water Vole down at the Beck. Most recently was last Thursday when I spent a good 15 minutes watching one scurrying backwards and forwards along the bank in and out of the greenery before it disappeared from view.”
by mark, SCUNTHORPE
Thursday, July 29 2010, 9:09AM
“Well done for highlighlighting the often misguided EA.
Keep us updated.”
by Amanda Robinson, Scunthorpe
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 5:32PM
“I have reported this to Defra, the Environment Agency and The Wildlife Trust.
I will let you know what response I receive.”