New RSPB Dovestones site survey

[diggleken]

This survey has appeared on the RSPB website.
Its beeen a fairly open secret for many months now that RSPB are long leasing UU land in the south pennines at Dovestones reservoir with a view to a massive new reserve down into the Peak District, 'enhancing the visitor experience', taking much moorland and the reservoirs to do so, without changing what people currently go for until this consultation has happened.
Thought you might like to know.
Any views?
Cheers
Ken
The RSPB: Dove Stone

[captaincarot]

what is it they are proposing doing?

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

what is it they are proposing doing?

RSPBing it!
As far as I know, warden, new cafe site, guided walks, car park, signage etc etc, but consultation first, as in the link.
Ken

[Dogghound]

Yes I was talking about this at an RSPB reserve yesterday. It will be great especially for raptors such as hen harriers. Also it may help educate land owners in the local vicinity.

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by diggleken

RSPBing it!
As far as I know, warden, new cafe site, guided walks, car park, signage etc etc, but consultation first, as in the link.
Ken

we need a slap on head smiley as i need it, i somehow totally over looked your link sorry.

it looks like they are going to provide more facilities, which isn't a bad thing except for it already being too busy at times.

if they promoted an atmosphere like that found at other of their reserves then i would say that would be a good thing,

and more signage with a few people on hand to pick up info from would certainly be of benefit.

over all it looks good.

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Yes I was talking about this at an RSPB reserve yesterday. It will be great especially for raptors such as hen harriers. Also it may help educate land owners in the local vicinity.

Hopefully Dogghound!
Hen Harriers will be some time off yet.............but there are lots of good stuff up there, which the RSPB should improve on.
The Upperwood estate at Dovestones was in a shooting magazine this week with a big article - and thats an issue that the RSPB will have to deal with to stop it as time goes by.
They shoot about 4 or 5 times per year, dont bag too many as its not a profuse moor - having said that, there are unshot areas that have more Grouse than the shot areas! Clever Grouse.
Many bred and fed Pheasant up there though in the surrounding woods.
They also say they shoot White Hare once a year to keep numbers in check - I just dont understand that at all and if it was 'sport' they would have to set them off running to have a moving target - you can get really close without them doing so - they are Hares after all and rely on camouflage very often. I wonder if they shoot when they are white?
Cheers
Ken

[James M]

I heard there would be a meeting/presentation discussing the new reserve at Saddleworth Museum sometime this month, do you know when it is Ken?

[Morph]

Hi Ken,
I'm not at all sure its a good thing but could be wrong. I've already put up a post at another forum but didn't get very much of a response.

Read it here.

[ChrisJB]

I have to say I am a trifle concerned about this. Already Dove Stones is a local 'honeypot' and to aim to attract even more folk is going to totally swamp the place.
I am also at a bit of a loss as to what the RSPB's remit is in terms of the species they are trying to attract. A wealth of blanket bog as opposed to a dominance of heather moorland makes the uplands pretty unattractive to hen harriers and merlin at the moment. In all my years walking Saddleworth Moor and it's adjacent areas I've only ever seen two merlins and no hen harriers.
I suppose, the local breeding golden plover and dunlin could do alright out of it, providing visitor disturbance doesn't play a part. As well, if the mooredge/in-bye is managed suitably, twite could well return in reasonable numbers and this would also benefit the curlews and peewits.
I guess it is just a matter of wait and see.

Regards, Chris