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| Mitigation site is being created chiefly for benefit of waders |
ON the shores of the Humber Estuary outside Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire, a new man-made haven for wetland wildlife is starting to appear on 35 acres of fields formerly used to grow cereal crops.
It will be known as Novartis Ings - acknowledgement to departing multi-national chemicals giant Novartis which donated the land.
The company left this as its legacy to the local community after manufacturing at the site next door for over 70 years.
Why is this site being created?
The aim is to provide mitigation habitat for forthcoming industrial development on nearby land which will no longer become hospitable to roosting and breeding waders, wildfowl and other wildlife.
Says designer Roger Wardle: "The site will be providing wet grassland that is in mosaic with a storage lagoon, scrapes, islands and spits with slightly higher points to help the birds spot potential predators.
"The appearance may seem open and bare habitat, but that is just what the waders need."
Water levels will be topped up from the nearby Mawmbridge Drain just before it would otherwise be discharged into the estuary.
Some of that water will be stored in the lagoon and released in dry times to increase the habitat’s resilience to drought.
What birds are likely to use the site?
Replies Roger: "Oystercatcher, lapwing, redshank and other waders used to breed in the area but are now very scarce or don’t breed at all locally due to a lack of suitable breeding habitat.
"This new site, although primarily designed for roosting, is likely to provide renewed opportunities for lost breeding waders, such as lapwing, to return.
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| Lapwing - will it make a breeding return? |
"Pyewipe Estate, just down the road, takes the local name for the lapwing, indicating that in the past they were common in the area.
"As the habitat develops it is hoped that other species will also breed such as ring plover and even terns if the numbers of gulls is not too high.
"Some islands, especially in the lagoon, will have gravel and shell toppings that benefit wader roosting by simulating natural features associated with the estuary."
"Cattle will be introduced to the site between spring and autumn to help control the vegetation the target species for this site much preferring short grass or bare ground.
"The cattle also make large footprints at the water’s edge creating micro-habitats for lots of insects that the birds subsequently feed on, not to mention the large biomass of invertebrates that live on dung pats.
"The birds will be easily visible from the edges and the sea wall.
"As with all sites like this, we would ask that people respect the site, keep quiet and generally try to reduce bird disturbance.
"Waders can be fickle creatures and flocks are especially vulnerable to disturbance.
"Once the most nervous bird takes flight, it panics them all.
"The tall green fencing around the site, in part helps to break up the shape of people and pets."
Ends Roger: "Only time will tell - Novartis Ings might not be an overnight success.
"However, we are very optimistic that the site will make a significant environmental contribution in conserving the waders of the Humber."
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| How arriving birds will see the site as they fly in |
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