Photos work from the bottom upwards.
First shot shows the start of the path that runs around the front of the lagoon as you enter from the canal towpath downstream from Crowther Bridge.
2/ shows the path running towards the lagoon right through an area containing Northern Marsh Orchids and Common Spotted Orchids.
3/ Shows the view looking downstream behind what was the wooden platform people used to watch over the Ski Lake and Lagoon. Paths on this side are around 2 metres wide with spoil from the paths dumped on either side over strimmed vegetation. This path finally emerges near Freeman's Bridge.
4/Shows the path at the other side of the lagoon that runs alongside the Calder looking downstream.
5/ Shows the same path looking back upstream.
6/ Shows a view back downstream looking towards what was scrub before it was strimmed and chopped flat. The path that has been dug in these photos is some 3 to 4 metres wide and the scrub on either side is strimmed flat right up to the river bank and the bund wall on the lagoon.
7/ Shows how the path at the back of the lagoon looked before it was destroyed.
I think several questions need answering about this work.
A/Why were local active conservationsts not consulted
B/What the hell is the plan for the site in the end
C/Why is the work now taking place in a very important breeding area for resident and migrant birds and at a key time of the year when birds are pairing up and nesting
Sorry to take up so much space on the blog but I thought others might wish to see why Nick, John and myself are so incensed by this wanton destruction of prime scrub habitat.
4 comments:
I forgot to add that I have reduced the photos down for loading on the blog but you can enlarge each image slightly by double right clicking with the cusor over the photo
I'm not a Calderdale resident but those that are should get on to their local councillors straight away. these people usually have quite marginal seats and are very sensitive to complaints about the councils work.
This really is quite shocking and a demand for details of the environmental strategy for the area should be vigorously pursued.
Looks more like a drive than a path. It should provide a good track for off road motor cyclists though.
There seems to be a desire these days to make everything controlled, tidy and suburban.
I'll take John B's advice and go and have a look.
I am very much a part time birdwatcher - due to work and family commitments - who lives in the Bradford area and who dips in and out of your website and Bradford's.
Regarding the "Calderdale Conservationists at Work" Yes I agree, it is an insensitive time to start work on developing footpaths. However, I believe that any work of this kind that is now undertaken has to comply with the DDA ac which is a good thing although it does mean a wide footpath.
I don't know, I just thought that I would raise this matter as nobody might have thought of it.
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