In the week that landowners are being encouraged to plant more hedges the Environment Agency is doing the opposite, says an Ely resident.
David Jermy says he has written about an issue locally to the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) which is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity.
Mr Jermy says on the Great Ouse at Queen Adelaide near Ely the Environment Agency are clearing riverside scrub including thick bramble bushes along a two mile length of river between Queen Adelaide and Littleport.
“The bramble bushes are the roosting and nesting habitat for hundreds of birds, primarily dunnocks, house sparrows and blackbirds,” he says.
“ Kingfishers are also quite common on this stretch of the river. This habitat is also home to hedgehogs.”
Mr Jermy says he has spoken to the Environment Agency foreman who are doing the work “and he assured me that the correct procedures had been carried out to produce the report to show no wildlife would be affected.
“This is very questionable.”
Mr Jermy says: “At a time when we are encouraging landowners to plant more hedges the agency responsible for our environment is doing the complete opposite.”
He has submitted ‘before and after’ photos to the RSPB and is hoping to attract their interest into looking at the environmental issues raised.
He says the photos show just a few yards in length “of the bramble habitat destruction”.
Mr Jermy adds that he has also reported the issue to the complaints department of the Environment Agency.
