Spurn visitor centre spat

Below is the statement issued by Spurn Bird Observatory Trust earlier this month.

Spurn Bird Observatory is the oldest mainland Bird Observatory
in the UK and has been operating on the Spurn peninsula in
excess of 70 years.

Data collected there in that time by
observatory staff, volunteers and visiting birders has greatly
enhanced the study of bird migration, has fed directly into
national monitoring schemes and has helped shape conservation
policies.

Furthermore the lead taken by SBOT at the Easington
Little Tern colony has made a significant difference to the
survival of this rare breeding bird. In addition, SBOT has a
special place in British birding and ornithology, with events such
as MigFest and a widely applauded annual report
complementing and cementing its place as a social birding hub.

We think it would be fair to say that without SBOT, Spurn and
the local area would not look like it does today.

As you may have seen Yorkshire Wildlife Trust recently placed
a message on their website re the working relationship with
SBOT.

They have stated that they have decided not to renew
SBOT’s license to operate on YWT land at the Warren and
along the peninsular at Spurn due to continued reports of alleged
“harassment at work and online from people associated with
SBOT”.

For the avoidance of doubt, SBOT does not in any way condone
any type of activity that could be considered to represent
harassment or intimidation at work or online and also strongly
refutes that it has been involved in or sanctioned any such
behaviours.

Clearly this situation is not ideal for both organisations and
consequently the charities are working hard to find a resolution
to the issues, with future meetings being scheduled to review
progress towards resolution. Both parties remain hopeful that
ringing by SBOT on Spurn will start again soon.

We would be very grateful if everyone with an interest in SBOT
would carefully consider actions that may be construed to be detrimental to our ongoing discussions with YWT

The rumpus over the new visitor centre has blown up anew. Can’t help feeling that the. YWT have been rather heavy-handed. Has anyone been to the new centre?

www.eastyorkshirewildlife.co.uk/blog/201...dplxomhr5garqhvs4pcx