Dear <<First Name>>,
The Radley Neighbourhood Plan and Radley Lakes
Richard Dudding (for Radley Parish Council) and Roger Thomas (Chairman, Friends of Radley Lakes) have been continuing the series of initial discussions with landowners, local councils, amenity and wildlife groups about producing a 'masterplan' for the long-term future of Radley Lakes as an area of nature conservation and quiet recreation.
During the summer, we intend to undertake an on-site ‘access survey’ to try to get a sense of how many people are visiting the Lakes, what they do there, and how they get there. The results will help to inform the masterplan. The first survey date is 11th July and there will be a second date in August, to be advised later. The volunteer list has been completed for 11th July but we will be looking for volunteers to help in August. We will send an email around when the date is finalised.
We'll also be consulting widely about ideas for the masterplan in due course.
Attracting Sand Martins to their wooden bank at Thrupp Lake
As reported in a previous newsletter, Earth Trust have installed a Sand Martin bank on the long island on Thrupp Lake. In order to attract Sand Martins to their new home Lucy Duerdoth, the Earth Trust warden for the site, and a few volunteers recently set sail for the long island to install a Sand Martin call play-back speaker, battery and solar panel on this bank. The hope is that as Sand Martins are social nesters they will hear the calls and come and investigate the bank, with the view to using it! The play-back speaker was paid for by the annual grant that FRL gives to Earth Trust.
The Sand Martin bank is visible as you walk around the lake, most easily spotted from the ‘beach’ area where the memorial bench is situated as it’s on the furthest island opposite the ‘beach’ (near Bullfield Lake). The play-back speaker is light activated and so the calls are playing during daylight hours. You can hear it if the wind is in the right direction if you are standing on the lake edge walking from the bird screen towards the Sustrans route that leads you to Barton Fields.
|
