Running the gauntlet?

LIVING on the canals and being a keen observer of nature I'm somewhat bemused by the idea of a 'wildlife corridor', writes Ralph Freeman.

Do the numpties that come up with such schemes not realise that most of the inhabitants of the Cut are very territorial. Have they never observed the behaviour of herons, swans, moorhens and kingfishers for example, when an interloper drops in on 'their patch'?

Vicious battleground

The Cut soon turns into an often noisy, quite vicious, battleground! Even the diminutive dragonflies are fiercely protective of their stretch of the canal. Most creatures 'on the move' therefore have to 'run the gauntlet' because the local inhabitants certainly do not welcome the competition for local food supplies from newcomers.

Pipe dream

So the idea of some tranquil 'corridor' where wildlife can casually wander to and fro is far from the reality observed by people who live on the canals and really know what goes on on a day to day basis! I just wish all these outside groups would come up with some supporting data and real facts before putting these pipe dreams into action and wasting valuable resources.

One question I've often posed and never got an answer to is:

"Why is there more wildlife in Barton Turns Marina than in the nearby Branston Water Park where there are no boats?"

Make a contribution

As others have pointed out, why should CaRT listen to these people who are not customers and contribute little to the financial well being of the canals? Isn't it time for English Nature and English Heritage to 'put their money where their mouth is' or just shut up?