Hi
We have a lot of new subscribers after our Norfolk's Nature Discovery of the Year Webinar this month, so if that's you, then welcome!
This webinar was attended by over 160 people, and revealed the exciting discovery of what is probably the largest colony of barbastelle bats in the UK, right on our doorstep in the Wensum Valley.
Dr Lotty Packman of
Wildwings Ecology conducted this thorough research this year, revealing how there is a super-colony of barbastelles that range all over the Wensum Valley. Just one veteran tree was packed with these bats, as we got to see in the presentation as they came out after roosting in there during the day.
The surveys conducted by Norfolk Council's contracted surveyors had failed to find these maternity colonies along the proposed route of the road.
Dr. Packman's presentation also explained why mitigation cannot work. Even if bat bridges/underpasses worked (which they rarely do), deaths from crossing the road is only a small part of the problem. The wide area of destruction of habitat during construction and the noise disturbance caused by a road over a wide area are just two other factors that cause bats to die out.
If you missed it, and would like to see the recording of the webinar please email us to request the link.
What this Discovery Means
As the other possible routes for the NWL were rejected largely because of the presence of this legally protected species, it means that the NWL just can't be built in the environmentally sensitive way that was claimed.
Norfolk County Council has pushed back their meeting on putting forward the road plans to the Department of Transport for funding (the Outline Business Case (OBC)) twice in as as many months.
They will now be meeting on the
1st of February. We do wonder if the delays are because they now cannot claim they are meeting the environmental standards required when they will destroy a major habitat of a
IUCN red listed species....
We have been asking the Council to Pause and Review this project. There are many potential solutions to local traffic problems to explore, and with COVID the travel needs of Norfolk People have changed, and the financial situation has significantly worsened.
What can I do to help?
Got 2 minutes?
Share and comment on our Facebook posts, retweet from our twitter page. This helps the message get out to the maximum number of people.
Got 15 minutes?
Write to your councillor/MP before the 1st Feb 2021.
We have a guide to help you here
Thanks to all those who have written so far, let us know what replies you get, if any! (and make sure you add your address to your email).
Got a couple of hours a month?
Help us organise meetings, email updates for members, coordinate social media (do you use Instagram?). Help needed please! As the campaign gets bigger we need to make sure it is well coordinated and we are currently relying on just a handful of people. Even if its just volunteering to do the minutes, we would love your help....
Help us to bring other wildlife and local groups on board - eg see this. Personal contacts especially helpful, but just a willingness to get in touch with potential partners would be brilliant. Email stopthewensumlink@protonmail.com, or join our next action
meeting.
There are also people looking into alternative solutions to the terrible local traffic problems. Let us know if you want to help with this aspect of the campaign.
Join our facebook group - for discussion on how we take action on the road. Lots of ideas on how we can all help there.
Can you commit to a few hours a week for a few months?
Surveying - We are conducting a phase one survey in the Wensum Valley. Currently going out Mondays at 10am in the Ringland area. Training is available, so no skills required, but we especially need skilled botanists/ecologists.
No time, but would like to contribute?
We hope to see you at one of our on-line or virtual events soon. Thanks so much for your support and Happy Christmas!
The Stop the Wensum Link team
