Novartis Refuge.

I have fired in an email to Rachel, NELC's ecology officer, re access for LBC members. When she replies, I will post the info here.

Were LBC members invited to the opening of Cress?
Maybe this site will only be open to studying/degree ecologists, data gatherers and University wildlife monitoring groups?
I wouldn't say Cress has failed as such. It has had good gatherings of Spoonbill, Avocets and other waders. A few have nested on site, producing fledglings. It's problem was always predation and the amount of gulls that flood the site. Since Novartis was created though, the number of gulls at Cress has dropped significantly. Hopefully, this will bode well for future breeding attempts.
Regarding Novartis, I wonder how they will protect the site and how they will monitor the general public access to the wall. Will the barrier remain in use and will they install security cameras around the site?

The great and the good gathered today to mark completion of the new Novartis Ings wetland birds mitigation area on the outskirts of Grimsby.

This is  a sister-site to Cress Marsh at Stallingborough.

Lincolnshire Bird Club received no formal invitation to attend, and it is not yet known if access to the site  - and its hide - will be allowed to members for official  bird-monitoring purposes.

If consent is withheld, it will have to be a matter of peering through the railings - like visiting the zoo - or watching from afar on the adjacent estuary wall.

As with the Cress Marsh project, the mitigation area has been created to allow companies to develop other bird-sensitive sites on the South Bank of the Humber without the need for prior ecological consents.

To date, Cress Marsh has failed to live up to hopes - counts of waders and wildfowl have been modest.

However, there are high hopes for Novartis Ings which has a more favourable location.

Both sites were designed by Roger Wardle who is pictured with the mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Steve Beasant.

Hi Nick,

In regards to mobility I usually walk with stick but not far due to arthritis in me feet and weak legs.  I will PM you sometime thanks.

John

I don't know the limits of your mobility John, but what I can add is the approach from the perimeter fence to the hide appears to be a switch backed concrete ramp. I assume possibly for wheelchair access. From the main road, there is at present a stone layered track with a barrier at the start. You would have to negotiate this before getting to the hide ramp. As yet, I don't think anyone knows if this track will be tarmacked, or if the barrier will remain in place. As to anti-social behaviour, I don't think this would be an issue during daylight.. more of an 'after hours' problem. As to dog walkers, well they only bother you if viewing from the sea wall. Once on site and in the hide, I think it will be fine.

If you would like to visit the site John and have a chat about what we're talking about on this forum, I would gladly meet you there and give you a guide to what we have discovered ourselves.
You can PM me on 07771 524141

Nick

No point in writing to Novartis because they are pulling out of the site - they have donated the land to North East Lincolnshire Council as an act of generosity and goodwill. 

NELC have made it clear that they will be treating the site as a ‘mitigation’ area for wetland birds - NOT as a visitor attraction in the same way as, say, the RSPB reserves at Frampton, Titchwell or Bempton. 

Personally, I don’t see why they can’t combine the two, but that’s their choice. 

As I understand it, once completed, the site will not have a warden and will rely on volunteers (mostly LBC  members)  to look out for its welfare/monitor the wildlife.

This is what is already happening both at this site in its incomplete state and at its sister mitigation habitat, Cress Marsh, at nearby Stallingborough. 

NELC’s ecology officer is Rachel Graham who has a good relationship with LBC  members (and is possibly a member).  

I will be contacting her shortly for clarification of the access arrangements (and opportunities) re Novartis Ings and I will mention you, John, and your keen interest but limited mobility.

 In the meantime, I will be in touch with you via email with a few additional  thoughts.