Wheldrake Ings....

[upyonder]

I visited about two weeks ago (I usually get there once a year,over last 12 years)...now generally its been wet, board walks washed away etc.etc.On this visit..hot, I found Willows loking like they are dying,hides in poor condition etc..I have contacted the Wildlife Trust with no response.Does anyone know whats happening...is this just a natural cycle or is the site in trouble !! Ive had such great visits in the past..dont get me wrong there is always something new but the general impression got me worried.

[ChrisJB]

Having just had a troll on the 'net, just discovered quite a bit of alarming news. Apparently there has been conflict here between Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Natural England. One wants the reserve to be predominantly wetland, whilst the other wants it to be mainly meadowland.

I've even read that a past (or still present?) site manager not so long ago over - drained the reserve, totally messing up the wetlands!

Regards, Chris

[sometimes]

is that argument still going on!
Personally I can't see why it can't be wet in the winter and dry in the summer - well dryish in the summer - there needs to be some water for the Black necked Grebes etc. and not too much for corncrakes.

It has been over 18months since I visited wheldrake for a proper look, I seem to recall seeing a Barn Owl floating (flying) about over the river from the small pool below the formal carpark on the road.

[upyonder]

Some latest news can be found in the Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts Summer 2008 magazine, it does appear to be a dilema over the best management regimes to satisy the variety of objectives and species.

[burntfacedjake]

I visited a fortnight ago for the first time in about 8 years. Unfortunately (for me) the river was too high and there was no access to Bank Island or over the bridge to walk down the east bank of the Derwent, but still got to the hides at Bubwith. Lots of Teal, Wigeon and Shoveller about.

Having not had much time for wildlife watching for a few years while my family has been growing up it was great to get back and see such a beautiful area even if I didn't get as much access as I'd have liked. May visit again this week if time allows or pop over to Blacktoft if the water's still high. Anyone know if the water levels in the Lower Derwent Valley have dropped enough to get access to the hides yet?

[ChrisJB]

If Wheldrake is still being messed up I'd be very disappointed and angry. It used to be a great reserve, with Black Necked Grebes, Corncrakes and very agreeable Barn Owls. Purple Hairstreaks by the car-park too. Skipwith Common nearby was always a good Nightjar place too, though again, I've heard that is not the place it was.

Regards, Chris