Working
at a Nature Reserve.
More support
and protection to this fragile Wildlife Nature Reserve and its
surrounding area is needed.
I have since October 2007 worked at
this Reserve.
The Chard Reservoir Nature
Reserve is not only a good place to observe wildlife but a
direct historical link to the past.
As its title suggests its
primary purpose is as a Local Nature Reserve yet any bystander
would get the impression that it is there for the sole purpose
of the angling community which commandeers most of its richness
depriving the Chard inhabitants and the wildlife of much access.
Click on images to enlarge
Erosion.
Deliberate destruction.
Bonfires and
Campfires
Litter
Nylon Line.
Carpets.
Open defecation
Own
experience
Vandalism.
Restricted access.
The
Ranger
Dog
Walkers.
Wild life.
Bats
Birds
Angling at Chard Reservoir Nature Reserve.
Angling is
controlled by the Chard Angling Club. Well control is not the
correct description its more a free for all.
It is hard for
me to see what benefit the anglers bring to such a superb Nature
Reserve. Almost all of their activities cause damage to the
wildlife their habitat and the environment.
Discarded
line is a major problem which causes injury to the birds. I
witnessed a Coot with a broken lower bill trying to feed without
success. The only way this would happen would be an anglers
hook. Another day I watched as an angler repeatedly casting into
a small flock of Coots with their young, the heavy weight
missing them by inches, yet he continued casting into the group.
I witnessed
Moorhen with line tangled around its legs, also Gulls and a
Pigeon.
I have
recovered line from the moored bird rafts and the old duck pens
on the west bank. A considerable casting effort indeed.
I have watched
as anglers intrude into the areas restricted to the wildlife so
they can cast bait.
It appears to
me that the wildlife is an unwanted distraction from their
angling.
The Countryside Ranger and
unpaid volunteers pick up the rubbish left by anglers, this is
a disgrace. Chard Angling Club who are taking the fees for
fishing should accept responsibility for the activities of their
members.
The club can't be bothered to
keep any record of who is fishing there, or check the pegs after
the angler has left etc.
I have seen no positive
activity by this club on this site. They make no effort to
improve the wildlife potential or habitat. Their contribution
this year was ripping up wild Iris plants and throwing them on
reservoir bank because this interfered with their fishing pegs.
They appear not to care less about the habitat and they are
leaving plenty of small items of waste deposition. Tea bags a
favourite to litter the waterside with spent batteries and
cigarette ends.
What I would like to see
would be a caring attitude displayed for the environment.
Some consideration given to
others who go there to view wildlife.
I would like to see the
anglers recovering the heaps of line and tackle that adorn the
semi submerged timbers around the Bird Hide.
I want to see them take
ownership of the problems that they cause and not leave it for
others to clear up. Each time I go to the bird hide I see line
entangled on the semi submerged timbers also their lost baiting floats
trailing line.
Why can't the Chard Angling
Club organise a clean up? Why leave it others all the time?
The Chard Angling Club reaction.
It is all very well to for
Chard Angling Club to state the following in their website
"latest news for May"
It was disappointing to learn that some anglers have been
defecating in the woods at Chard Reservoir and not using the
ecoloo on site. This has lead to complaints which the Club is
taking very seriously. Anyone caught defecating on any club run
waters will be instantly banned from the club and reported to
the relevant authorities. The Club does not condone such
disgusting acts and will not allow the future of any of its
waters to be jeopardised due to a small minority of
inconsiderate anglers. Please pass this message on to other
fellow anglers on behalf of the Club."
Anyone caught defecating?? a
pretty slim chance of that happening!! Are we to presume a
grunting angler in the woods in the dead of night is just
having difficulty angling or passing the time?
So it seems we can expect no one to
be banned or expelled.
Maybe if they policed their activities
properly this would not happen.
Surely it would be easy, very easy to inspect pegs and
surrounding areas after use. Why not enforce your rules?
That would make more acceptable sense instead of the meaningless
statements made on your web site.
How about the two bags of
human excrement thrown into the undergrowth for others to clear
away in December 2009.
What about the felling of
timber, in this case a Hawthorn Tree ( good for wildlife) cut
down by anglers without permission because it fouled the casting
of line when the water level was high in the reservoir.
The price the rate payer pays.
Erosion.
There is
erosion
to the wooded areas where the anglers continually
tread and push the heavily laded wheeled vehicles containing their
equipment everyday. This is a busy place and the continual residential campsite area
along the shore line is
having a detrimental effect on the fragile ecology of this wonderful
small reserve.
17 Dec 2009. At
this moment in time the banks look like a war zone from WW1.
Nothing grows where the anglers tread.
The
angling is open to all comers every day for 365 days a year so there
no time for the water side areas to regenerate and recover from
continual human traffic imposed on it. All you need is to offer
£10.00 which in my view is a pittance for 24 hours camping and
fishing. Most charge another £10.00 for overnight fishing .
The
vegetation has, where the tents are pitched every day is gone.
There is no control over those wishing to fish, anyone can
set up camp without prior permission and once your money has been
handed over there is no further checks. No control over the
activities of the angler and his companions.
Keep Nets.
The rules
clearly state "No Keep nets allowed" but you will see anglers
using them. Yet again signs have been made to re-inforce this
rule.
If travellers or Gipsies had set up camp on the waterside of the
reservoir there would be an outcry. The only
difference is instead of caravans they have tents.
Deliberate destruction.
The perimeter fencing along
the road leading to the anglers car park has
been deliberately broken, the palings broken down and barbed wire cut in many
places on the Chaffcombe Lane near the anglers car park.
Why is
this? Answer: because they can load their fishing kit
directly from the boot of their cars instead of using the
correct entry points. The sluice entry point is only yards
from the damage. I can only assume that the lack of excise of
this sport makes them weak and unable to lift and carry their
rods and kit in a manly manner to their swims.
Bonfires and
Campfires
The anglers appear to
consider its OK to light fires. Over the past 12 months I have
noticed a marked increase in the ashes left behind for us to clear
away. Some of the fires are alarming in
size. I once discovered an
angler beating a broken tree limb against another tree in an effort
to break it to feed his camp fire. Some of the logs he was burning
measured 9" in diameter.
Fallen branches are part
of the woodland and contribute towards the habitat for the smaller
creatures. The fallen branches are not there to provide fuel for the
angling community.
Discovered recently two
anglers burning between
two living trees. The heat from the fire may kill the exposed
roots of the trees and the tree.
The two anglers I questioned
failed to comprehend the significance of a denuded woodland and
the effects on the habitat, wildlife and fish.
The lighting of fires and
camping in the
reserve is prohibited. A notice to this a effect is now on display
for all to read.
The SSDC have now posted
laminated paper notices to this effect.(9/April2009). Whether
this will have any effect remains to be seen. The similar
signing directing the anglers to the Eco Loo were ignored by
those at the swim 47-50.
Since April the lighting of camp fires has
decreased.
October 2009. I am still
finding evidence of fires. The embers hidden under stones.
Litter
Deposition of
litter continues on a daily basis. Some of the litter
is deposited with blatant disregard for the fact that this is a
nature reserve. There is considerable amount of small items
deliberately discarded from
tea and coffee bags, foil milk lids, sweet wrappers,
dozens of discarded batteries, fishing line,
empty
butane gas containers, plastic
bottles, broken fishing tackle, used barbeque containers, tent pegs,
broken camp beds, broken rods, beer cans. Tent pegs left protruding
from three roots.
The
list is endless and includes almost anything you can eat or drink.
To suggest that the general public discard these items on the
shore line is nonsense.
Nylon Line.
The
discarded fishing line is fouling the birds. We regularly
recover many many lengths of line entangled in the bushes, reeds and bank.
I have witnessed a moorhen with line entangled around its legs.
It took a long time to die. Fishing line
has been recovered from as far as the bird roosting rafts where
anglers practice casting results in lost line weights and hooks and it ends up
tangled dangerously in the exposed decaying branches in the
water. I have many images of line entangled areas used by the
wildlife which are difficult to remove because of the deep silt
and mud.
Bundles of line are recovered by the Ranger almost daily.
What amazes me
is the attitude of the anglers. An angler will state that "its dreadful the way
they ( other's) treat the place" and watch me as I
pull yards and yards of line from almost beneath their feet!
Why can't they remove any
line and debris? If the line is obvious to me , as an old man, then
surely it must be obvious to other anglers. Each time I question them the answer is
always the same " that's not my litter so I'm not picking
it up"
March 13th 2009 Great
Crested Grebe was hooked on by angler today which dived on the
bait cast right next to the bird. Witnessed by the
Ranger. Why are they casting line next to the birds in the
breeding season?
July: Pigeon tangled in line
and reported by an angler was last seen at the sluice
area.
August 20th 2009:I
witnessed Cormorant entangled in line at south West end of
the reserve. Photos to prove this.
August: 27th 2009 A Coot with
a lower broken bill ( beak) was seen. Damage of this kind can
only have been caused by hook and line. A very sad sight indeed.
Dead fish so far this year I
have counted eight mostly after fishing competitions.
12 Sept 09
This does not improve, I have recovered much
line recently.
Sept 2009: Much Line recovered al the way
across the reservoir to the opposite bank where they are casting
to out of bounds areas.
June 2010 All line is
collected and bagged. It is a vast amount. They are still
throwing spent batteries from their alarms in the water and on
the bank side.
May 2011 Line still
being recovered some fresh some old.
June 2011 line tangles around the cygnets.
Seprt 2011 line on Coot and Swan.
Carpets.
To enable the anglers to
remove the hooks from the fish they catch they use pieces of
carpet to lay the fish on to prevent damage to the fish whilst
the hook is removed.
Then the anglers leave the
carpet pieces on the shore line, wet and soggy for others to
remove.
Toilet facilities.
Probably the most disgusting aspect of angling at the
Chard Reservoir Nature Reserve is the angler’s defecation in the adjoining wooded
areas. The worst area affected area is the swims furthest from the Eco
Loo ( a waterless toilet). One can easily spot the place where
you will find human excrement, it usually hidden under small
pile of toilet paper or a small piece of anglers clothing (
socks are the favourite item). I have learnt not to
proceed any further with litter picking.
Adequate toilet facilities are provided by the SSDC on the Reserve yet
this facility is ignored by many.
August update:
this is still going on. Human excrement at peg/swim 40.
Unbelievably within 5 yards of the area they fish and
camp.
October 2009: This is still a
problem. Toilet paper and human excrement left. This is an open
sewer. With the constant unceasing occupation of these fishing
pegs the surrounding areas are being treated as a toilet.
December 2009.
Two Supermarket bags containing human excrement thrown into the
woodland near swim 40.
June
2010 This is still happening. Sunday the 28th June was the worst
yet. Piles of excrement and toilet paper in the woods adjoining
the swims 48-51. I have made a sign asking them to
use the Eco- Loo. The woods are used by locals with the
children.
In
an area used daily by the general public on a regular basis this poses a
health hazard to any using the pathways.
Don't let your children
walk in the wooded areas, or better still don't go there at all!
Own
experience
Over the Christmas holidays
2008 I took my grandchildren over to the
reserve for a short walk and in my misguided enthusiasm I took along
a litter picker and bin bag to instil in them a responsible
attitude. They are only 6 and 8 years old. We collected the usual
plastic bottles and then to my horror along the pathway was clear
evidence of human faeces and toilet paper. I counted three lots. Our
walk was curtailed. I do not consider that it is a safe place to
walk.
In most countries, Bangladesh for example the population of
villages are being educated in the diseases passed through open
defecation in their immediate area and latrines are being built in
these communities.
The
evidence clearly point to the anglers being the culprits as
most of the public spend little time there . Walking through the
reserve as it would take only 20 minutes for the slowest walker and
the Eco Loo is clearly signposted.
These items not only affect the wildlife it also fouls the swims
area for the next arrivals.
Yet
when you speak to the anglers they all portray themselves as
committed wild life enthusiasts.
In
my experience the clearing of simple litter discarded by
careless children at the duck feeders is a simple matter to deal
with and requires nothing more than a litter picker and a bin bag. I
feel physically sick cleaning up some of the anglers sites and
consider that the one may need a biological hazard protection
clothing soon.
We have had to
erect signs asking them politely not to drop tea bags and
batteries on the shoreline. Why do they need to be told?
Since commencing my work as a volunteer I now
find it hard to see any merit in coarse angling and how this
seemingly idle pastime they refer to as sport may benefit the Chard
Wild Life Reserve or the wildlife in any way whatsoever.
Vandalism.
Because of the close
proximity of the Chard housing estate the Chard Reserve is
regularly visited by the local vandals. These go to extreme
lengths to break anything they feel is of any value. Even
kissing gates are deliberately broken. This was done by
children aged between 10- 12 years old.
Vandalism is expensive to
repair and the presence of a full time Ranger may prevent a lot
of damage. The hide even though made from thick sheet metal ( to
prevent vandals setting fire to it) has received very many
attempts to break it. Many of the hinged port guards are bent
and damaged so that they will not close properly.
Some one even stole a home made bird feeder!
containing bird food.
The Bird Hide.
This superb facility is
available to all for free and is sited in a good position to
observe the water fowl at all times of the year. There are
rafts which provide photo opportunities to those wishing to get
that bit closer to the Cormorants, Heron, Egrets etc. Although
you will still need a powerful lens to fill the frame.
The rafts are at present
towed into the shore and will be re-positioned after the end of
the breeding season.
But a warning, at times I
think the bird hide should be
renamed the Carp & Duck Feeding Station. If you want to
quietly watch the birds in their natural habitat on a sunny day you will be
very disappointed. Almost every half hour in the afternoons you will be disturbed
by a constant procession of locals bearing bags and bags and
bags and bags of cheap supermarket white
bread to feed the Carp and Ducks.
The notice's displayed by the SSDC forbidding this practice is totally ignored by all
including adults.
Birds just fly away as soon as
arms appear and the shouting begins. The hide is also a meeting
place for children who enjoy playing their MP3 players and
eating and drinking.
The local bird enthusiasts
suffer in silence.
However you will be
undisturbed very early morning and late in the evening and probably not at all if the
weather is changeable.
Restricted access.
Exclusion of a large part of the reserve to the general public.
The area where the disabled can access the waterside is
reserved for anglers.
The
Ranger
The
Ranger has only three days at the reserve where priorities
are controlled by the prevailing weather, the effects of the weather
on the trees, leaves (on path) and the amount of litter and rubbish
left by the public.
This is clearly a full time job. 48 acres under constant
daily usage by
the public demands more and more effort to deal with increasing
traffic.
More housing development is underway in Chard
and traffic in he reserve is growing daily.
If
this reserve is to continue to offer angling more resources are
needed,
-
A
full time Countryside Ranger to control ALL activities.
-
More
control over who fishes, when and where and for what.
-
Closure of swims to allow regeneration of the
vegetation.
-
Discontinue
overnight angling.
-
Restrict the
total time allowed. (24 - 48 hours is not fishing its camping)
-
Angling clean up on a daily basis
-
Angling fee's increased
considerably to account for
the above.
-
Ban fires and camping
completely.
Having accompanied the Ranger of many occasions in the past 3
years I can vouch that this is a physically demanding job.
Wild life.
Bird boxes erected for the woodland species at The
Chard Reservoir Nature Reserve last year 2008 have had some success
with many of these being occupied. Over 50 bird boxes have been
erected and 10 bat boxes, you may see them as you walk through the Reserve.
All of these have been placed there by the Countryside Ranger in charge of
the Reserve.
The rafts which usually float on the
reservoir are used by the Cormorants, Heron etc have been moved
from their moorings and cleaned until the end of the breeding
season. This is to discourage the Lesser
Black Backed gull from nesting on the rafts. The Lesser Black backed
gull will kill and eat the young of the Great Crested Grebe. The
rafts will be towed back into position when the breeding season is
over.
The wildlife in the reserve
is under constant pressure from all sides. Few areas are now
free from human activity to allow for the nesting and breeding
to continue unmolested. The west bank where most birds nest,
rest and feed is being infiltrated through the broken palings
fence by children from the Sustrans cycle way. A simple solution is
to replace the perimeter fence. This would deter casual
intruders.
If
you are enthusiastic about protecting the wildlife and habitat
please volunteer. Phone the SSDC at Yeovil on 01935 462462
Dog
Walkers.
The
Wildflower meadows adjoining the reserve are patrolled on a
daily basis by an ever increasing army of dog walkers. The
resultant faecal litter is mostly deposited by responsible dog
walkers in the bins provided. Judging from the amount collected
every week is testimony to the amount of use the meadows get. To
protect some of the remaining meadow is would be beneficial to
fence off some of the meadows to protect what wild flowers have survived. There is a danger that we will
lose much of what we have here through over use.
