Sorry Tim, should have said - I am operations manager at Red Rose Forest! We got the funding and planted the trees but are not the 'owner' in GMP's terms...ah well...

Lovely to hear us described as excellent, I know some of our woodland planting schemes haven't gone down that well with birders in the past but we now really try to make sure we consider birding interests, as I hope our work at Lightshaw and Bickershaw has shown.

Mike

Mike Savage wrote:

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In terms of reporting, I wonder if there is a shift in approach from GMP. We were trying to report vandalism to street trees in Manchester, but were called back and told that the report has to come from the 'victim', in this case the Council - reports from 'the public' would not be recorded and given a crime number.

mike s

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It's quite likely that these street trees were provided by the excellent Red Rose Forest so let them know and maybe they can report it and prevent the Police ducking out of issuing a crime number

Mike Savage wrote:

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In terms of reporting, I wonder if there is a shift in approach from GMP. We were trying to report vandalism to street trees in Manchester, but were called back and told that the report has to come from the 'victim', in this case the Council - reports from 'the public' would not be recorded and given a crime number.

mike s

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I had a similar experience to this when I rang the police over a newish sapling being stripped of it's branches by a guy with an electric hedgecutter. It was a sapling the council had planted on our estate, and the Police would not take the complaint from me.
They said as it was Council property it had to come from them.
The Council responded when I rang them.

Yet again, Dave Wilson provides sound advice on this subject. If we don't report it to someone, the no one will ever know and we're just basically ignoring the problem. Maybe it's low on GMP's priorities (and given how understaffed they are I certainly don't put the blame on them) but if they, or perhaps even better the council, receive a complaint for each and every incidence of vandalism for each and every birder who spots it, then maybe, just maybe, they'll be more inclined to do something. At the very least we'll have evidence for any future discussions which may take place.

Unfortunately, vandalism at the flash isn't a new problem and I fact it's been pretty rare in recent years. I recall the day Grebe Lodge hide was burned down many, many years ago.

In terms of reporting, I wonder if there is a shift in approach from GMP. We were trying to report vandalism to street trees in Manchester, but were called back and told that the report has to come from the 'victim', in this case the Council - reports from 'the public' would not be recorded and given a crime number.

mike s

As well as the damage to the hides etc the concrete steps over the canal have been smashed with what I can only assume was with sledge hammers, the steps have since been replaced with wooden ones, for how long is anyone's guess. And I notice that the grass by the path on the housing estate side has been on fire as well.

It was only a matter of time, Craig, and it's a difficult problem to solve, especially when much of the vandalism probably occurs at night. In the past, it would have been a police matter (and criminal damage still is, I presume), but I'm not confident that there'd be much of a response these days. Even so, if I come across any instances of wilful damage, I'll test the waters by ringing the police. Others might want to do the same - certainly challenging some of the numbyeds at night might be an unwise, and potentially dangerous, option.

It was only a matter of time really. Short term vision from the Council or WLTC, whichever one manages (or not) the site these days. When I was there the other week I was quite miffed to see the state the place is getting in. Paths full of potholes, little if any vegetation management, graffiti, litter etc etc. I appreciate they have a couple of staff who do the litter and check things over, but they don't give the impression of actually caring about the place (with one exception). I know first hand the care and effort that used to go in to keeping the place looking good and to see it going to pieces like this is quite upsetting to be honest. I did think of writing to the council/councillors responsible for the area but resisted. I honestly don't think they'd listen. They seem preoccupied with the green flag parks. Sooner or later the place will become a tip and the revenue will drop. Thy might start thinking about doing something then.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 6th of July 2014 08:31:37 PM

Such a shame for any reserve when vandalism occurs, especially somewhere as important as Pennington Flash, and John ... I also noticed the burnt seat at Pengy's hide last Sunday afternoon.

Don't understand how people get some sort of pleasure out of destroying things. Don't think the local authority will regret letting the Rangers go one bit. Shame that sites like Pennington attract ---------------------------- Insert your own words here

It was a shame today to see the window gone at Horrocks hide,2 big holes gauged into the seats of both Pengys Hide and the Same in Ramsdales ,with what looked like knives or axes Also there was signs of someone trying to set fire to the seats in Pengys as well ,I think soon the local authority will regret making all the Rangers redundant, These brilliant places cannot be left to look after themselves. I fear for the future of local reserves like Pennington Flash if they are not policed in any way.