An ill wind

[seadogg]

We recently had a new bypass over a hill at the back of us which local people dislike. It caused a great chunk of land to revert to nature as no farmer could access it. Yesterday, within a hundred metres we saw whinchat, linnets and skylarks where none had been seen before. Its an ill wind that blows nobody any good!

[Kiki-frog]

Wow, how wonderful. There really is something magical about skylarks. I lived in a peaceful rural area as a child, until they built the M23 half a mile away. But then for the first time in my life I saw kestrels hovering over the verges where all the tree cover had been taken away.

I really don't like the construction of motorways etc, but like you say, it's an ill wind...

[razza]

Its amazing what nature can do,they say skylarks are dwindling,not far from me are 2 ex pit tips returned to the wild,on one trip to one of the tips a couple of years ago,I counted over 30 skylarks in the sky,and on the other although younger than the first around 20,plus loads of other birds,animals etc.

[seadogg]

Sorry wasn't able to get back to thank you both, kiki-frog and razza. Been on the go all day. Its good to see nature make a comeback in the ways you have described.

[chaptazbru]

Read in the paper this morning that the Council in, I think it was Burnley, are going to let roundabouts revert to nature without cutting the grass again to encourage wild flowers and insects - good for them !

[Cetti]

That is such exciting news, seadogg, as I'm sure you know that the Skylark is on red status and the Whinchat amber, so both birds are exceptionally welcome. These birds need all the help they can get, so please post if you see anything else!