David Lindo, TV personality and conservationist, who has come to prominence as ‘The Urban Birder’, and fronted the recent poll to select Britain’s ‘national bird’, has spoken out about the poor signal building on important wildlife habitat adjacent to the Nature Reserve at Crossness will send to young people.
Cory ‘Environmental’ has submitted an application to build two huge computer server centres on the former Borax fields, which border the site, and are an integral part of its wildlife ‘resource’. If approved this will result in the loss of breeding red-listed Skylark from Erith Marshes (its other key nesting site in Bexley is also under immediate threat from ‘development’) and Ringed Plover (red-listed) and Little-ringed Plover as breeding birds from Bexley as a whole, as well as destroying key open mosaic habitat.
In a message to Reserve Manager Karen Sutton, David said: ‘It would be very disappointing to see further industrial development here. Crossness Nature Reserve is not only a vital urban resource for the birds and other wildlife that depend on it, but also for the local community who enjoy these urban reserves. In my speech at the bird hide opening event last year, I talked about the value of such places for our young people, how important it is to engage with them and increase their awareness of wildlife. Crossness does this! What kind of message will we be giving them if buildings are permitted on such valuable wildlife areas?’
Ralph Todd (left), with Karen Sutton and David ‘The Urban Birder’ Lindo at the opening of the new Crossness bird hide in 2014.
You can make your concern – and your support for wildlife – known by using the ideas here to submit a letter of objection to Bexley Council:
David was recently voted 7th most influential person in wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine.
He can be followed through a variety of media:
Website:<http://www.theurbanbirder.com/>
Twitter: http://twitter.com/urbanbirder
Blog: http://urbanitybirder.blogspot.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUrbanBirder?fref=ts
David Lindo, Karen Sutton and Andy Tomczinski prepare the cut the ribbon at the opening of the new bird hide at Crossness. Two four-storey sheds on the Borax fields to the east will have a massive negative impact on the view …. ( photo Ralph/Brenda Todd)
How appalling to construct buildings which will threaten breeding birds.