Good news for Tree Sparrows
Herts Bird Club Tree Sparrow Initiative at London Colney
The Tree Sparrow colony at Coursers Farm has been under threat from the obliteration of the site by gravel extraction. Following discussions with Lafarge Aggregates who have control of the area back in April (HBC) and May (Herts County Council) the company have now submitted a revised plan that will leave the colony site outside the extraction area, however it will be contained in the area for the eventual work for restoration that will see more provision of water bodies and planting for wildlife . The plans will need to be approved formerly by the HCC but as they have been involved already in the formulation things are looking good.
The current status of the Tree Sparrow remains at the critical level, but it is stable and with the threat of the loss of the site being removed it gives them a better chance of survival with a hope that a future upturn in abundance may be possible.
It should be noted that Lafarge have shown a great deal of cooperation with the Herts Bird Club in this and other issues concerning Tyttenhanger (and Panshanger) in the past, to retain this goodwill it is essential that we show restraint,and encourage others also, when some goodies turn up on what are private sites with limited public access.
Jim Terry, HBC Initiative Lead