Desolation Row

How to protect green space # 2

Following on from this How to Protect Green Space, I had an after thought.

The possibility of independent individuals or local groups actually having the money, time, energy and capability to actually defend green space and nature is rather low.

In fact I suspect that until a centralised network for conservation evolves it's more than likely a journey further into the abyss. Systemic change is needed and I don't mean (just) through the political party system and the introduction of new policy (such as a nature and wellbeing act). An independent network that connects e.g. ecological consultants, planning experts, lawyers, media and publicity experts to local groups/community members is required I would say. A network that provides advice and co-ordination on how to defend green spaces a the local/ specific level. In essence a kind of HQ from where local groups can be coordinated and go to for assistance. That way when it comes to getting people together for e.g. demonstration, petition signing or even occupation there could be an assembled pool of people to draw support from and give support too. Basically for things to change for nature conservation it will take more than policy changes it will take an effective conservation 'army' which is centralised and well coordinated. 

Natural History Trip to Azores

More info here: AZORES NATURE

Ringing Day with Sid

 Reed Bunting

Water Rail

Spent the day with Sid on Sunday doing some ringing with the Beddington Ringers. Caught a few birds and the Water Rail was showing well. 

How to defend green space

Do a Bioblitz, record all the species of conservation concern , build a case for protection (ref to existing policies-), form alliance with local community groups who share interest in protecting site, get attention via local media/social networking to build support, , feed the protection case into public consultation stage of the developers planning application, meet with the planning officer directly (he/she is the one with the real power, the planning report generally dictates what will occur not the decision of the councillors) encourage conservation NGOs and other groups, individuals to comment on application and then present case at development control committee (mainly for cosmetic and publicity purposes). If you're lucky the planning officer will recommend that they put a little wildlife corner within the scheme, a wildflower strip, some bird boxes and call it something like Barn Owl Estate. The DCC will go for that and wave it through (you might get lucky and have someone influential within the local authority who opposes the development) . If no such luck and you want to stop it altogether then you'll need to take it further-about 30K minimum (quite achievable to raise via group funding/sponsors/ wealthy interested parties etc) ,get lucky with a sympathetic judge to permit the legal challenge (or one who wants the legal sector get their pound of flesh from the development), a good legal team (to scrutinise the planning officers report for technical errors and then build a judicial review against the planning decision). You'll also need a court protection order from the Aarhus convention (to limit your liability but expose the developer to potentially crippling costs defending themselves)and a group of eco-warriors to occupy the site over a sustained period if that fails. By dragging the developer into the legal and direct action route could incur crippling costs on the developer/local authority that make the project collapse. Basically whoever runs out of money and/or will first loses. Simples.

Back to work

 Was in Romania yesterday looking for these! 

 London Wetland Centre

 Toby at work 

 Smew in the collection 

 Bewick's Swan in the collection

 Cormorant

Back to work today, doing some tree work at the London Wetland Centre. It was colder than in Romania and better views of the sought after geese (in the collection) - 30 mins from home.
Good to see the centre so busy with birders, meetings and school visits even on a freezing winters day. We've got the the pre-feasibility study for a Beddington Farmlands centre which is due to be completed by the end of March. Various groups are being consulted including the WWT. Beddington is a larger site (4 x the size), with established habitats etc within a diverse demographic and social environment so will provide different opportunities and exciting possibilities.

Bulgaria and Romania Short-trip

Red-breasted and White-fronted Geese

 Red-breasted Geese

 White-fronts

 Caspian, Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gull 

 Little Gull

 Caspian Gull

 Long-eared Owl

 Steppe Lake in Romania

Popped over to the east for a few days. Highlights included Red-breasted Geese, Caspian Gull colony, Long-eared Owl roosts (30 odd birds), Smew, Long-tailed Duck Grey-headed, Green, Great-spotted, Syrian, Lesser Spot and Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Hen Harriers (lots), Rough-legged and Long-legged Buzzard, Eagle Owl, Sombre Tit, Hawfinches, Brambling etc. 100 species in all (hit the trip target on the nose with 5 minutes to spare).
Thanks to Dimiter from Neophron, Jaffa and Cliff for good times.