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Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger  I would have thought it would get more people out cycling if the tracks went through nature reserves, and that, as the Sparkly one says, has to be better news than another road.
I don't know the reserve but presumably it has some public access, and a cycle path is hardly a 6 lane motorway. I think we need to be careful not to make nature reserves off limits to the general, and I mean general as in not really interested in wildlife, public. I agree that we shouldn't start putting 50 picnic tables and a dozen fast food outlets in each reserve, but if a cycle path means half a dozen familys go for a bike ride and two young children grow up with a huge interest in nature then that is a good thing, yes.
Only my thoughts.
BWD |
I agree 100% with what you say (and welcome back
btw). Indeed in some instances a footpath/cycle path can be a good thing in maintaining an area of bare ground good for things like digging wasps and bees, glow worms etc that would otherwise be lost as scrub and grassland encroached on bare bits. Obviously though there are some areas to be avoided, areas with sensitive species - ground nesting birds etc - mudflats where thousands of waders roost etc.
I don't know if I would have grown up as fascinated as I did if it wasn't for the footpath through the ancient woodland near where I lived.