Sharing The Same Bed

Once again the Fishertown fly tippers show their civic pride in our River by dumping a mattress, rather than phone the council to have it removed.

 I read with interest on the local Gurn that the River Community Council are planning to take over the grass cutting and other civic maintenance tasks like tree planting, pruning etc. With the Gurn, Liz, Colin and Tommy Hogg, who are all sharing the same political bed, this should surely be fairly easy to achieve ?  The River community council should represent the WHOLE COMMUNITY in their patch, Party Politics should stay out of it . However many people in Nairn don't see this at all. I also notice there was no mention of picking up litter from the riverside which I and others have been doing for years. The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust have been given the cold shoulder by the powers that be - of course Swans and ducks don't vote. The current 60 + plus members of the trust most of whom are members of the local community, have put their money where their mouth is and wish to protect and enhance the river wildlife and their environment - they do vote. I recently offered Liz and the region the chance for the Trust to plant some Rowan, Hawthorn and shrubs at two locations on the tidal reaches of the river at no cost to the region. This was refused, WHY ?  Quite simply because the local politicians can see some political kudos in doing it themselves. The reason the Trust wanted to do it, was for the benefit of the birds winter food supply, and the enjoyment that the community would get from it. Had we been given permission it would have already been done. I appreciate that some individuals have a personal dislike of me, but this should not interfere with the greater good of the Town, community, wildlife,  and environment. For a small Town like Nairn, there is much too much politics, talk and back stabbing, and not enough support and action for those people and organisations that have the well being of the Town at heart ! Time to start sharing the bed equally !

A Gurn to River Community Council

Quite a few members of The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust are disgruntled by the habitat desolation between the Merryton and Roadbridge, and rightly so. The removal of many bushes and young trees, also the lower branches of all the remaining trees has added to that look of desolation. Before all this took place, the broken and damaged trees to be removed were marked with paint, and "A light touch would be applied " was the phrase used. I pleaded with RCC Chair Tommy Hogg to leave the bushes and dogwood alone, but he said it was up to Highland Region people who were calling the shots. The Gurn now tells us to go to River community council meetings to air our grievances, and perhaps come up with some suggestions on improving the Riverside! I had a look at the few Alders that have since been planted, but it does not make up for the loss of Rowan, saplings, and bushes that have been removed. Speaking out on behalf of the Trust and wildlife, I have sent the following email letter to the River Community Council in the hope that they will at least make up for the 2012 clearances, and plant a dozen or so Hawthorn and Rowan trees for the benefit of the wildlife.

Dear Stephanie and River Councillors,

The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust notice that only a few Alder saplings have been planted as tree replacements between the merryton bridge and roadbridge. In view of the fact that more young trees were removed than have been replaced, particularly the young Rowan trees, these should be replaced as a food source for the wild birds.

The removal of all the lower branches of the existing trees and destruction of bushes was uncalled for, and has been detrimental to the wildlife.

The original fallen and broken trees that were marked for removal was acceptable, but most of the removed wild bushes and young saplings should have been left alone, these were cover for the wildlife and a deterrent to dogs.

The Trust would like the replanting of some berry producing trees such as Hawthorn and Rowan to replace, enhance and aid the wildlife there.

Yours Sincerely

Joe Telfer, on behalf of the River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust.

To See Or Not To See...That is the Question.

After speaking to SNH, (Scottish natural heritage) I have today sent off the following email to the biodiversity Officer of Highland Region. This sets out my reasoning for the retention of the undergrowth at the Merryton bridge. I think I have a valid argument, I would like Cllrs Colin Macaulay, and  Tommy Hogg to look at this blog post in it's entirety and convince me otherwise.

Dear Miss Bromham,

I understand you deal with bio diversity for the highland region, and I have been given your name by SNH.

For the past 9 years I have been caring for the local swans and river wildlife in general on the river Nairn. Having constructed a Swans island on the lower river 5 years ago which has been naturalised and highly successful.

I am concerned for some riverside natural habitat which is currently under threat from the local authority.

A family of rats was discovered in a patch of undergrowth near the Merryton footbridge over the River Nairn. This family was only two adults and one maybe two youngsters as far as I could ascertain. The local authority are currently baiting the area with rat poison, evidence today is that the bait is being taken.

However, local councillor Colin Macaulay, has ideas of removing the undergrowth where the rats have been seen as an additional measure.

Along with others, I consider this idea to be very foolish for a number of very good reasons.

1. The undergrowth is dense and made up of dead and alive Bramble, gorse, and broom . It is useful and used extensively by small birds throughout the year, particularly winter where it can remain snow free underneath because of the density.

2. It is on the riverside and is also used by the ducks during nesting time, because it is safe from dogs which are constantly passing by on the nearby footpath. With the construction of a large flats complex only last year, many additional new dog owners now use this riverside path.

3.The riverbank location of this undergrowth is such that if it were removed, it would give a clear line of sight to every dog passing the area, and would most certainly result in swans and ducks being attacked by uncontrolled or unleashed dogs !

4. It would also allow the possibility of canoes and kayaks using the cleared bank space to launch boats into the river from the adjacent carpark.

5.Because the river community council have just cleared native and non native species ie, Himalayan balsam from the vicinity just after full bloom and the seed pods were bursting ! It is inevitable that any newly cleared area will be covered in non native seeds and will sprout unhindered !

Leaving the old undergrowth will suppress any new growth from starting !

In the last couple of years I have noticed a sharp decline in Herons fishing at this side of the river, and am convinced it is because of the increase in dogs taken alongside the river bank. The birds do not get the time and peace to fish !

All of the above things will happen if this scruffy piece of undergrowth is removed, it may look scruffy and untidy but is a vital part of the local ecosystem and protection for many species.

I ask you, for the sake of two or three rats which are also part of the river system - is it worth removing for the potential damage to the environment ?

If you have the power to advise and stop this foolish idea, please use it for the sake of our river and wildlife.

Enclosed photo's of our Pen which was attacked and nearly killed by a passing Labrador a few years back, only prompt action on my part saved her life. Allowing more dogs unhindered access to the river will result in more attacks.

Please persuade cllr Macaulay and River community council to abandon any idea of removing the undergrowth - in fact, advising additional planting of thorny type bushes would be a benefit to the habitat and ecosystem.

Yours   Sincerely

Joe Telfer   River Nairn wildlife carer.

My point about the lack of Herons over the last couple of years I think is also a valid one. The amount of dogs that are now sent down into the water between the Merryton bridge and swans island has jumped in the last couple of years. The Heron pics I took below were seen through gaps between bushes. The one at the top was taken just in front of the area that has now been cleared and opened by Tommy Hogg about  30 yards above the Merryton bridge, we will probably never see that again. My point is, the greater access to the riverside by dogs and people will mean less scenes like these.

Loss of Habitat

We have many bird species on the lower River Nairn, we can boast the largest - the Swan, and Britain's smallest bird the Goldcrest, seen between the Merryton and main road bridge. Sadly this area has been stripped of natural habitat used for winter feeding and cover. I was led to believe the area was going to be "tidied up and have some fallen and broken trees removed, and the sewer overflow pipe extended into the river". The descriptive words used were "a light touch would be applied". 

The truth is that virtually all the bushes and wild saplings have been shredded in spite of my plea to River Community Council Chairman Tommy Hogg to spare this habitat for the small birds that depend on it for winter feeding and cover. It also allows passing dogs easy access to the riverside which roosts many ducks at this spot . Every yard of tidal wildlife habitat is precious, especially in an urban environment, people want to experience nature close by and they don't want to lose it.

 Even this shredded area was host to Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Blue tit, Robin, Chaffinch, as well as more common blackbirds etc, not to mention mice that live in the dead trees! I may wear glasses, but I can see perfectly well what's going on around me, do the River Community Councillors ?

Some before and after pics, and some of the species that we will see less of now !

Riverside Litter & Other Issues

Over and above the perennial problem of dog poop, with the darker nights aiding the offenders. There are other ongoing issues which affect the Town and the wildlife. Today for instance I picked up the usual litter scattered along the riverbank close to the Swans island, in addition there was a dumped microwave in the river which I retrieved (since no one else was likely to do it ). It was dumped just 15 feet from a large bin, but there's no reasoning with plonkers I guess. There is also a clear danger to children at Brochers brae with the new wall which houses the recently installed sewage pipeline.

 Although I brought this to the attention of the River Community council chair Tommy Hogg, and Cllr Liz MacDonald with the accompanying photo's of  child bikers, they don't appear to see a problem. 

Since before completion when I realised the contractors were going to leave a flat surface on this wall rather than the angled one that was previously there. I voiced my concern knowing that the wall would be used for BMX stunts, skateboarding, and as a seating area with the ensuing litter problem ! I'm not often wrong, but I'm right again ! Residents adjacent to the wall have witnessed similar scenes and in my opinion it's only a question of time before some kid takes a header over the wall resulting in serious injury or worse ! Can you imagine what this surface will be like when it's thick with ice and snow ?
It is also bad for the wildlife because people sit on the wall eating fish and chips and feeding the gulls, finish up by dropping their drinks cans and wrappers into the river, the result can be seen in todays litter collection by me ! The mere fact that bikes use the wall scares the wildlife from their roosting area between the bridges too. Scottish water should be made to reinstate an angled top to the wall rendering it useless for play. With a little imagination it could be made into a very attractive feature. Covering the entire wall top with fixed growing boxes allowing hanging type plants flowers and shrubs, which would make an ugly wall into a cascade of colour. 

This feature already exists at the top of Harbour street close to the traffic lights and is much admired. This is the kind of civic pride that should be expanded throughout Nairn, it draws visitors and would make the riverside walk a positive joy, with colour and wildlife to be seen. C'mon River Councillors, spend some of your  £3832 treasure chest on beautifying the riverside !