Hes East; What's happening? (1 Viewer)

Hi Guys

I seem to have spent most of last week at Hes East thanks to some good local birds present. Because of this I've also had the pleasure of meeting a lot of you, who also came to enjoy the birds.

Unfortunately, as I'm sure many of you will have noticed, there is also a large amount of disturbance at the site, with dog walkers and students around, which is causing a good deal of disturbance to the waders attempting to breed. A recurring conversation topic was what the future held for Hes east, and the probable loss of all the habitat.

I spoke to Tim today, and we were wondering what people would think about having a meeting to discuss ways in which we could influence/speak to the Uni to try and improve the situation in both the short term and longer term. Neither of us have any experience with this sort of thing, so we can't do it on our own, so thought we could have a meeting to discuss options, see how people felt about this etc?

As a suggestion, tomorrow at 9 in the Deramore Arms, Heslington? I realise this is very short notice, but thought it might be easier to do it during the bank holiday when jobs etc won't be getting in the way? Feel free to suggest alternatives

Ollie and Tim
P.S.If something is already happening and we're treading on toes, let us know, we'd love to help?

Forgive my ignorance but what is, or where is, Hes East? I live in York and I have no idea what this post is about.

John.

Hey Bubbs,

Heslington East Campus of York University, it's had such goodies as Black Tern, Osprey, Wood sand and flava-type wagtail this week alone, plus has a fair few breeding waders.
Cheers
Ollie

sorry should say 'attempting to breed' waders

Had some interest on this topic on the Yorkbirding topica list so thought I'd put some of them onto here to generate interest

Andy Booth

Hi Ollie & Tim,

There is a group which has been set up to manage both old & new campuses for wildlife & a work colleague of mine is on this committee which includes the Head Gardener of the Uni amongst others. John Lawton, President of the YOC has some input in an advisory capacity.

I and others have expressed concern to this group about the amount of disturbance but I don't know where things stand at the moment - perhaps John could let us know or I can ask my work colleague to write a piece on the matter? I'm sure it would be OK for Ollie & Tim to get involved in some way.

I'm afraid that I don't really have time at the moment and am unlikely to make ab=ny meeting tomorrow due to other possible commitments which may arise.

Hope that helps in some way.

Cheers, Andy

Mike Williams

To Ollie & Tim & others

Just to support what Andy has said: The YOC did write (late last year I think) to Prof Elizabeth Heaps who I believe has some overall role with the management of this area and a reply was received which suggested, as I recall, that matters were largely in the hands of the Head Gardner who would be asked to contact the YOC in due course. However, this initiative does not appear to have made any headway to date. Given the birds which have been recorded this spring some new effort is clearly needed, and I think Tim and Ollie should be applauded for pushing us to do more.

I hope other readers of this forum will make the effort to meet up Monday evening to have an exchange of views and hopefully seek a way forward. Like Andy my time is limited (we all say that) but I have to drive down to the West Midlands and back tomorrow. If I can I will endeavour to turn up. Would help if someone can say where the Deramore Arms are located.

Regards

Mike

Paul Fletcher

Mike,
The Deramore Arms is in Main Street, Heslington - it's the second pub, on the left, as you go down the street from the roundabout by Heslington Hall

Paz

Russell Slack

I'm guessing that the "committee" have no idea about the cracking birds that have been turning up nor the increasing importance of the site for passage and breeding birds - it might be an idea for 'someone' to pull together a report of the birds that have been seen at the site so far and present it to them so that they can see the variety of species and their local/national importance?

This document would be a useful starting point for discussions with the committee - plus it would be a useful baseline document if they go ahead and ruin the site (ornithologically speaking).

I presume that there is not a management plan for the site, but it would be useful to get some interested birders on the committee to add input for useful suggestions to improve the site for birds such as:

Tern rafts
Perching rails
Sand Martin bank
Keeping dog walkers from certain parts of the site
Looking at the possibility of extending the wader scrapes at the east end

The list is endless, but with no disprespect to the gardener then I'm sure few of them would be on his agenda which is why some expertise from local birders would no doubt be helpful. Outside of the LDV Hes East is fast becoming one of the best birding sites in the York area, lets hope that it stays that way!!

Here's hoping that Collared Pratincole is added to the Hes East list tomorrow......

Cheers, Russell


Paul Reed

I am happy and available to meet tomorrow at the pub listed. But there needs to be more than just Ollie and Tim and me; we need to put a fight up here;otherwise it will end up like rowntrees park!! The birds will be gone......please can we support this???

Paul

Be great if we can great a group of us tomorrow to meet up, looks like something good can definatley come of this.

OK, well we seem to be struggling for support here. It's good to hear that a committee has been set up, but it seems not much has happened with it so far, and the situation has changed quite a lot since it was set up. So again, would be great to see as many people as possible tomorrow, to look at new tactics/reinvigorate the current ones. I will be down there from 9, drinking on my own if that's how it pans out.

Location of the Deramore Arms:
http://http://www.thederamorearms.co.uk/contact.html

metcow333 said:

OK, well we seem to be struggling for support here. It's good to hear that a committee has been set up, but it seems not much has happened with it so far, and the situation has changed quite a lot since it was set up. So again, would be great to see as many people as possible tomorrow, to look at new tactics/reinvigorate the current ones. I will be down there from 9, drinking on my own if that's how it pans out.

Location of the Deramore Arms:
http://http://www.thederamorearms.co.uk/contact.html

Click to expand...

I will try and get down tonight/
Cheers Jono

Jono L said:

I will try and get down tonight/
Cheers Jono

Click to expand...

Just seen this. Did you publicise it on main Yorkshire thread? Reckon loads of people would be willing to lend their support if you give more notice about a meeting & mention it on the main thread. It sounds a great site, which needs protecting/improving. What was the outcome of last night's meeting?

This isn't an area I know at all. I suspect it didn't exist when I worked for Natural England on campus. However I have a contact in their new office who may be able to point us in this direction>>

It's a question of making people aware of the situation. York Council, YWT and your local councillors, MP and MEP. (Don't forget there are elections on 5/5/11 [although maybe not local in York]).

At this stage what is most important is that you log ALL bird records for the site and document any instances of disturbance (particularly to Schedule 1 birds).

PM if you think I can help further

Hey Guys

We had a meeting on Monday night, with a decent turnout of locals. We have written a letter to the University, informing them of the birds there, and offering our help and support in protecting them. We have also agreed to meet on a regular basis, but I know this may be difficult for BF'ers who live outside of York. However, I will post dates and times up here for the next meeting.

Anyone who visits the site, and can make good detailed notes of sightings would be fantastic, and either post on here, or PM myself or TimmyJones if it contains sensitive information, would be a great help.

Hopefully we can do something to help the site
Cheers
Ollie

I had a look at this site this morning as I was in the area. Very quiet for students and rather windy.

There was a greenshank present, I can give a full list of what I saw around if it helps anyone. At one point a couple of dog walkers did come off the road and cut straight across the back of the pools. I think you might have trouble stopping this but perhaps if there was a way of making a circular walk it would discourage people from wandering over the habitat?

Not sure where the site is but if someone gives me the info I can certainly visit and log species. Anything to help a good cause.

Glad to see (hear of) someone doing breeding bird survey! But who was it? Was it someone from uni...or just an interested birder.Also, site is probably more important or equally so at least as a passage site..this surely needs to be taken into account????

Paul

Hi Doc

It was an ecological consultant employed by the University, so good to see them taking it seriously. Hopefully they will advise on the importance of the birds, apparently she was somewhat shocked by their lack of previous surveys.

I agree about its importance to passage birds, unfortunately there is very little legal protection for passage bird sights, unlike for some breeding species. We can try to explain this importance to the uni, but at the end of the day I think they will see their campus development as priority, which I think is OK, but they hopefully will have to provide some alternative habitat for the breeding birds.

Ollie