Habitat Destruction

Above: Edgeley Road voles.

Below, the destruction at Edward German Drive.

Water voles and their habitat are clearly protected by law - Section 26 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act - but some landowners think they are above it. They are not.

I have reported this habitat destruction to the Environment Agency who will be speaking to the person responsible. Vegetation was not only felled but left to clog the stream, increasing flood risk. The bank isn't even his property: it is owned by Shropshire Council and managed by the EA.

I am especially angry because I contacted this person the week before and told him of the legal situation and asked him to leave the banks alone. Habitat destruction of protected species can also be reported directly to local Wildlife Crime police officers.

Mum Vole

 Beautiful Demoiselle

Here, I think, is the mum of the three baby water vols I saw last night. The vole in the water swam past quickly as if it had nothing to do with this litter, so I assume it holds a separate territory.

I'd like to thank Shropshire Council for instituting a new, vole-friendly mow line that doesn't expose any burrows, but since they're adamant they don't mow this patch, it can't be them. Mysterious!

Mystery

Above, weedkiller used by the timber yard.

Below, weedkiller used by the main town car park.

The grass was also mown here, outside Centre North East.

 Map showing with a W where the weedkiller has been used.

Below, a map showing where the mowing and weedkiller has been used between the Newport Road and Edward German Drive.

Having received no reply to my email to the council, I asked them about it on Twitter. Shropshire Council Twitter feed say it isn't them, even though two days ago a householder on Edward German Drive rang their Head of Grounds Maintenance and he said it was. The council are saying it's the Environment Agency. So I've reported it to the EA and they are looking into it.

I'm not out to blame or shame anyone. I just want whoever did it to realise they got it wrong and put in steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. Using weedkiller by water courses is against the law, even if there isn't a protected species present.

Serious Concerns About Council Contractors

 White Lion Meadow vole with a wound on its back.

Yellow wagtail.

 Adult vole at Edward German Drive.

I have serious concerns about the management of the voles' habitat at Edward German Drive, and I've emailed Shropshire Council about it. The contractors have not only mowed over water vole burrows, leaving them exposed, they've used weedkiller on a patch near the sluice gate and again by the pipe at White Lion Meadow. Why have they done this, when for years they've been so careful? I'm waiting for their answer, and will update when I have it. Hoping no voles have been poisoned! 

Possibly a baby vole at Edward German Drive.

Below, a water vole with bits of feeding, at Griffiths Tool Hire.

Hedgehogs busy in my garden. 

Very Sad Day

I knew this day would come eventually, but it was with a heavy heart I saw the planning application to build on the field where the water voles live. There's a full ecological report which outlines what's best for the water voles and stresses that they have legal protection, and the plan above does leave a buffer zone around the brook. But will the developers adhere to the regulations? In particular, will they require new householders not to own cats, as the ecological report advises? And what will happen to the pair of barn owls that live in the field? I can't see how they'll survive. I'm relieved to see Shropshire Wildlife Trust involved with post-building management, at least, and I myself will be up to the field regularly to check no one's breaking any laws.But I can't pretend it's not a blow to lose such a wonderful space for nature.