Cliffe Pools

[Wild-Woman]

Off to Cliffe Pools today. A relatively new reserve in North Kent, saved from the airport threat and one day to be a RSPB flagship reserve. An interesting mix of saline lagoons,freshwater pools, saltmarsh and scrub. Apparently it's home to thousands of birds and I'm hoping to get a glimpse of a hobby. I'll let you know what it's like. Julie

[Mark43]

Look forward to your report.

I tend to keep going to Sussex reserves so would be nice to know about whats in Kent worth going to.

[Gill Catton]

Turtle doves, nightingale, corn bunting, avocet, oystercatcher, common Tern, redshank, barn owl amongst the highlights last time I was there!
I think they are planing on opening it up and making it more like minsmere and titchwell.
It's a particularly good spot in winter too. Marsh and hen harrier, tons of waders absolutely thousands!

[canonman]

Hi Wild Woman
Nice to know that wildlife does win over the big company’s now and again.
Never been there myself, look forward to what you think of the place.
If it turns into one of the RSPB flagship reserves that with any look should make sure, it will have a long and protected future
Mick

[Gill Catton]

I'm not 100% certain they even intended to put it there I'm partially convinced they used it as a distraction technique for where they really wanted to put it. The infrastructure around the area would have to be totally upgraded, the bird strike risk could hardly be greater.

I'm not sure it wil ever be a full on flagship reserve either. I don't think it's 'pretty' enough unfortunately the general public need wildlife on pretty sites, green fields if at all possible....
I meet sooooo many people don't realise that the green fields can be pretty deviod of wildlife -- perhaps some rabbits and a few finches and that ugliest of sites full of rusty machinery, disused warehouses and old spoil heaps and naturally regenerated grassland (often brown ish very quickly rather than rich green) can be stuffed full of the most fantastic wildlife. They look at it and go eeuurrghh it's ugly and don't care if it gets developed....

Makes me sad

sorry rant over.....

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I'm not 100% certain they even intended to put it there I'm partially convinced they used it as a distraction technique for where they really wanted to put it. The infrastructure around the area would have to be totally upgraded, the bird strike risk could hardly be greater.

I'm not sure it wil ever be a full on flagship reserve either. I don't think it's 'pretty' enough unfortunately the general public need wildlife on pretty sites, green fields if at all possible....
I meet sooooo many people don't realise that the green fields can be pretty deviod of wildlife -- perhaps some rabbits and a few finches and that ugliest of sites full of rusty machinery, disused warehouses and old spoil heaps and naturally regenerated grassland (often brown ish very quickly rather than rich green) can be stuffed full of the most fantastic wildlife. They look at it and go eeuurrghh it's ugly and don't care if it gets developed....

Makes me sad

sorry rant over.....

Mmmm...one fraze I hate: Wasteground! It usually gets the landscape treatment, which is proudly advertised in the local press, usually with local dignatories planting some unsuitable sapling in a landscape full of turf, and they have the cheek to call it a new wildlife haven! They wouldn't know wildlife if it bit them on their shiny new Barber jackets!!!

[Wild-Woman]

Well I'm back and I'm knocked out at what I've seen. There was an RSPB event going on which was well organised and informative. All of the area has been cleaned up as there had been loads, and I mean loads, of burnt out rusty cars left to rot on the marshlands. The last time I had been in this area about 6 years ago, there had been an intimidating atmosphere created by the undesirable types that frequented the marshes with their tied up ponies and stolen cars and shot guns!
Now that it is owned by the RSPB, the potential is great. With the different types of 'pools' some brackish, some fresh, the invertebrate population is flourishing and therefore so is the bird population. On a guided walk, we saw,common tern, hobby,avocet, shelduck, whitethroat, nightingale, kestrel,greylag goose,oystercatcher,numerous finches and sounds of warblers, herons, little egrets and hundreds of different types of insects. There are a large amount of butterlies and their associated flowers.
The RSPB are doing the right thing in encouraging the locals to take 'ownership' of it's incredible diversity and gradually the whole of the North Kent marsh area should become a wildlife corridor, protected from development and home to thousands of birds and animals.
If you get the chance, I'd recommend a visit, take a picnic, your cameras and bins and enjoy it. There will be a vistors centre built in the future and I shall watch with interest as the reserve develops. Might even see you down there one day. Julie

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Well I'm back and I'm knocked out at what I've seen. There was an RSPB event going on which was well organised and informative. All of the area has been cleaned up as there had been loads, and I mean loads, of burnt out rusty cars left to rot on the marshlands. The last time I had been in this area about 6 years ago, there had been an intimidating atmosphere created by the undesirable types that frequented the marshes with their tied up ponies and stolen cars and shot guns!
Now that it is owned by the RSPB, the potential is great. With the different types of 'pools' some brackish, some fresh, the invertebrate population is flourishing and therefore so is the bird population. On a guided walk, we saw,common tern, hobby,avocet, shelduck, whitethroat, nightingale, kestrel,greylag goose,oystercatcher,numerous finches and sounds of warblers, herons, little egrets and hundreds of different types of insects. There are a large amount of butterlies and their associated flowers.
The RSPB are doing the right thing in encouraging the locals to take 'ownership' of it's incredible diversity and gradually the whole of the North Kent marsh area should become a wildlife corridor, protected from development and home to thousands of birds and animals.
If you get the chance, I'd recommend a visit, take a picnic, your cameras and bins and enjoy it. There will be a vistors centre built in the future and I shall watch with interest as the reserve develops. Might even see you down there one day. Julie

Sounds like you had a good day out there Julie..................Jon

[Wild-Woman]

Yeah. I did. Even caught the sun on my cheeks. ;-)

[Mark43]

Certainly sounds like a place to keep an eye on.

Thanks for your report Julie.