This year represents the second consecutive season for Swifts, an Amber-status summer-visiting bird in the UK, to successfully breed in the (now 4 years-old) Swift Tower on Riverside, north Cambridge.
Designed for 100 nesting pairs, this tower courted controversy when it was built due to its overall cost (during the early months of the post-2010 General Election austerity crisis) and coincidental (or not!) poor timing with the redundancy of Cambridge City Council's only full-time Local Nature Reserves Warden(/Nature Conservation Officer).
Currently used by nesting Starlings in the main (which is actually a Red-status bird!), about half a dozen Swifts are using the tower this summer, stopping miserable cynics like me from saying it was a complete failure. So: now it's here then, and working, let's hope the numbers of nesting birds continue to rise, year-on-year!
(The back of the tower, with Riverside Bridge's long adjoining, pre-river crossing, section behind.)
The tower is currently situated in a field undergoing radical change. In actual fact a flood plain, the field is separated from the adjoining River Cam by a narrow stretch of mature trees, including Weeping willow, and a newly cut 'relief-channel'- style stream (but more on that later). This field (and the neighbouring field beyond the bridge) used to contain sports pitches for the employees' use of the (now long-closed) Pye Electronics' Factory, and today also continue to provide (council-run) football pitches for public use.
Also alongside the field (on its western edge) is a Local Nature Reserve - Logan's Meadow: www.lnr.cambridge.gov.uk/reserves/logans_meadow/default.asp
Logan's Meadow is (quote, from the Council's website) "an oasis for nature within a recently developed area of the city", which is a bit of an odd summary really as the mainly Ash trees there are tall and old, and the surrounding road network and adjoining riverside infrastructure are well established. True, there are relatively new houses both beneath nearby Elizabeth Way and at the flats immediately behind it, but what I mean by odd is that it is not a new wild space for nature in the sense of those often created from scratch for new housing developments.
Indeed, Logan's Meadow has long been an important, albeit oft overlooked, integral part of northern Cambridge's overall biodiversity and its small network of (genuinely) wild spaces, and, due to neglect, abuse and lack of support, evolved into a bit of a lost treasure.*
(A BBQ and loud music in a nature reserve? - As observed from the other side of the river.)
But that is probably about to change...
After some work tidying up and adding new features to the reserve about 10 years ago, Logan's Meadow has now been linked up (by formal path access) with said adjoining field containing the Swift Tower and, at long last, additional work has taken place to try and improve the whole area along this stretch of the river, with wildlife specifically in mind.
You can now cross the fancy-looking Riverside Bridge and easily access both the reserve proper and the new field with the tower, stream and continuously developing and mature wild areas, along with access to open-access gardens to flats immediately to the east of the bridge as well.
(The River Cam passing underneath Riverside (Cycle and Pedestrian) Bridge. Note the gate-able 'cut-off' stream in the foreground.)
So... where am I going with this? Why have I called the Blog Entry "Missed Opportunity!"?
After all, the Swifts are nesting, a wild flower meadow and new reed beds have been planted, and Logan's Meadow has been re-invigorated...
(Shortly after the first meadow ploughing session. Note the dog!)
Well, because I believe Cambridge City Council, for want of a more mature term, have chickened-out of doing something really special here. Also, with what they have done, a few mistakes have been made... and these really undermine the current and future functionality of the place as an 'oasis for nature'.
What could they have done?
So, aside of the initial expense on the Swift Tower, with its artistic rather than practical slant**, and the loss of an excellent custodian of the City's wild places at the same time, the council have only used a small percentage of the available flood plain for the new wild spaces. My argument is that they should have used the WHOLE FIELD!
(Artist's impression? - The new site map for the whole site... doesn't it look good?)
The new stream cutting that will, in time, provide both shelter away from the river for fish fry, other marine animals, plus the birds and mammals that feed on them, could have been extended much further into the field, and have various channels and pools leading off it.
The reeds that will now grow alongside the stream will hardly be the most extensive, and the wild flower meadow will have a width of no more than 10 or so metres. Using the whole field could have created a significant stronghold for riparian wildlife in the city... and perhaps entice back the Otters and Kingfishers which once 'denned' and nested here not so long ago.
(Early doors: the reed and other water-loving plants' sectors.)
If the whole field had been turned over to reedbed, who knows what could have been encouraged in? Imagine Bearded Tits establishing themselves in Cambridge City for example! (Or even a passing Bittern in winter!) There is a site just outside of the city where you can see Bearded Tits occasionally, and Bitterns have also been seen at nearby Milton Country Park too, so I don't think it's within the realms of extreme fantasy personally.
You would also have had a valuable flood relief opportunity, on a part of the river that often floods its banks... and the houses on the opposite side of the river. The field, as it stands, often has open standing pools of water in the winter, and grass that is often so saturated after rain that you wouldn't want to walk on it, let alone engage in sport.
Lastly, imagine the educational potential of such a site, if properly thought out! Perhaps the construction of a couple of hides would have worked wonders, or maybe even just one, tall raised viewing platform or hide at the northern-end of the site that allowed the new (normally) hidden pools and channels (and their residents) to be viewed from a height and at distance... and perhaps even to enable the tower's Swifts to be seen flying past at eye level!
Why did they not do this then?
As far as I know, it was not an economic decision. At least, in terms of using the entire field. The argument apparently, was that the football pitches were still needed as there were no nearby pitches for the local community.
But I am sorry to say: this is poppycock (and I'm sorry for the use of another immature term in this entry!). For starters, the nearest football pitches are literally just 5 minutes walk away at the Chesterton Recreation Ground... and there is also the massive Stourbridge Common to the east for those wanting a more casual kick-about. Yes, there may be dogs there (see my point below)... but that's just an occupational hazard for playing 'free' football anywhere in Cambridge I'm afraid. Stourbridge Common is easily accessible using the new Riverside Bridge... or the Green Dragon Bridge just 5 minutes further along opposite the pub on Water Street.
Just how much organised football is played in this part of Cambridge then? Well, judging by the site's use currently, not that much, let's be honest!
What's wrong now?
So, you might think that a small start is better than none. And I guess you're right, if you just measure things at a macro level...
How is the site currently used then?
In short, it's used for dog walking. Every evening I walk home past the field, which is quite often, I might see some joggers, or maybe even the occasional informal kick-about (and even more rarely, Scouts, Guides, etc. on some sort of formal activity)... but, without a doubt, the biggest use of the place is for people exercising their dogs.
(Moorhen and dog prints.)
Combining walking dogs with observing wildlife is a massive activity in the UK, and I would say it challenges sports fishing in terms of overall numbers of regular participants... so I do know how carefully I have to tread here (pun intended)... But, regardless, this is not the site we should be endorsing this kind of activity! How can a place used primarily for dog walking truly combine with being an 'oasis for nature'?
Most dogs are off the lead as soon as they are led off the adjoining bridge, with its odd out-of-scale wheelchair slope that often leads straight into saturated mud! (see below, with attractive trolley cameo!). This leaves them loose to disturb wildlife straight-away (I'm worried about the nearby Water Vole - see below!), and also: to soil the football pitches.
What is it with this country doubling-up formally marked-out football pitches with places to exercise dogs? Not everyone 'poops and scoops' (and of those who do, I've lost count of the then non-disposed black bags thrown into nearby bushes)... and even those that do do it properly, what is left behind on the grass is not pleasant if you, say, happen to make a fine header in a football game and then land in a place that was recently popped and scooped by hand. Dog-owners are not clinical 'crime scene' cleaners after all!
(A discarded poo-bag... thrown in the water of the new stream's reedbed area.)
I have seen dogs of all descriptions attacking any bird that happens to be on the ground at the site, and also dogs going through the badly maintained wire fence around the new stream and into bushes and tree understories where interesting birds like Blackcap, Grey heron, etc. like to nest or take refuge.
If you're thinking dogs have to exercised somewhere... well, as I've pointed out already for the footballers, Stourbridge Common is nearby, and a large place full of lovely endless fields for standard dog-related activities... and from the north of town, the new bridge gets you there in no time!
On top of this, Logan's Meadow used to have an occupied Otter Den, or Holt, and a well-maintained Kingfisher nesting bank. But not now. I have seen the latter nest there, but not for while... and both the nesting bank and 'secret' Holt have overgrown and seen much neglect of late. I have also yet to see an Otter on the River Cam, despite their increasing numbers nationally after long-years of persecution... and, indeed, increasing numbers of them on the Cam's tributaries not far to the south of the city.
Personally, I think these Otters are put off by boats (rowers!) that use the small and narrow Cam for intense practice all-year-round. The rowing boats are environmentally friendly of course, and quiet too, but the associated noise of on-board - and mic'd-up - coxes and the cycling coaches that accompany them, put an end to the river being quiet until it's gone dark.
Regardless of this then (a rant for another day perhaps!), wouldn't it have been great if the whole 'Pye' field had been turned over to quiet backwaters and reedbeds for the Otters to re-discover and make a new, quieter, home away from the main river course? And also, how about a new, fully set-back, Kingfisher nesting bank too? (Perhaps right opposite a hide like at RSPB Rainham Marshes?)
(The old Kingfisher nesting bank - photo'd in early April, 2015... now even more overgrown!)
***
(Pointless wire fencing.)
I am not going to predict anything about these concerns here but, for once, I will try and look at the glass half-full as the place matures and more wildlife arrive...
The new meadow space has only just been turfed up, but I look forward to it maturing. I am also very much looking forward to seeing how many reeds grow alongside the stream and whether they manage to succeed in enticing in migratory reed specialist warblers like Reed and Sedge warbler to nest.
One thing's certain, I expect the sightings of the endangered Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius) to go up. The adjoining field, with its small, but slightly longer and well-established stream, now has an easily observed full-time resident (along with several rats!) and I hope to see its future broods link up with those that hopefully also discover the new stream, and Logan's Meadows' ponds.
It's true that dogs will occasionally kill Water Voles (if they spot them!)... but I would say their main enemy is the Mink and the lack of suitable habitat.
***
One thing's certain, I expect the sightings of the endangered Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius) to go up. The adjoining field, with its small, but slightly longer and well-established stream, now has an easily observed full-time resident (along with several rats!) and I hope to see its future broods link up with those that hopefully also discover the new stream, and Logan's Meadows' ponds.
(Water Vole and Brown Rat highways!)
It's true that dogs will occasionally kill Water Voles (if they spot them!)... but I would say their main enemy is the Mink and the lack of suitable habitat.
***
HOWEVER... all that said, my underlying point will always remain though: it was a missed opportunity.
A big one.
Cheers,
ZeeOx
P.S. I welcome responses to this piece. It could be that people will completely disagree with my evaluation and so, for balance, I will happy (sort of!) to see any decently-put arguments posted under the comments... as long as they're not rude!
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* Indeed, a recent report has shown its ponds to be a bit of a strong spot for the Smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris.
**... and a tower which took ages to entice the birds in through the use of a tape loop that only seemed to play in late summer when the Swifts had already migrated back to Africa (I am assuming it was solar-power triggered?).
Further interesting Swift Tower Links
http://actionforswifts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/modifications-to-cambridge-swift-tower.html
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2014/07/11/the-swifts-have-landed
https://www.facebook.com/cambridgenews/posts/10152322106533031
(And yes, that's a Daily Mail link in there at the top of this entry... I am working on my absolutist Lefty bias!)
Cheers,
ZeeOx
P.S. I welcome responses to this piece. It could be that people will completely disagree with my evaluation and so, for balance, I will happy (sort of!) to see any decently-put arguments posted under the comments... as long as they're not rude!
--------
* Indeed, a recent report has shown its ponds to be a bit of a strong spot for the Smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris.
**... and a tower which took ages to entice the birds in through the use of a tape loop that only seemed to play in late summer when the Swifts had already migrated back to Africa (I am assuming it was solar-power triggered?).
Further interesting Swift Tower Links
http://actionforswifts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/modifications-to-cambridge-swift-tower.html
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2014/07/11/the-swifts-have-landed
https://www.facebook.com/cambridgenews/posts/10152322106533031
(And yes, that's a Daily Mail link in there at the top of this entry... I am working on my absolutist Lefty bias!)
