By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Campaigners continue to oppose plans to introduce kayaking and canoeing on a ‘tranquil’ Nottinghamshire lake, conducting their own survey which found around 70 different species are living near it.
The YMCA and Balderton Parish Council have plans to build a launch dock for boats at Balderton Lake, to be used as part of the YMCA Community and Activity Village site.
Campaign group Save Wildlife and Nature (SWAN) is opposing the plans – but the parish council previously insisted that the activities would “not be detrimental to the wildlife”.
The YMCA said it has been assured by ecologists in its October survey that “no impact or harm will come to local wildlife through proposed plans at Balderton Lake”.
In response to that survey, SWAN has conducted its own, which it says revealed species including swans, kingfishers, little egrets, herons, sparrowhawks, great crested grebes and otters living near the lake.
The Executive Director at YMCA Newark & Sherwood said he would be happy to review the campaign group’s survey.
Emma Oldham, campaigner and conservation biologist, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that 20 volunteers collected data on the wildlife and found evidence of 53 birds, 15 mammals and a reptile, a total of 69.
She said: “We have created a master list of all species we know have used the lake in the last 12 months and found that there has been a huge increase in birdlife.
“This is an amazing story, this old landfill site has naturally restored and these species are bouncing back.
“With everywhere in Newark becoming a concrete jungle, we’ve got this wildlife hotspot.
“Balderton Parish Council should use the community passion and champion it rather than putting it at risk.”
She added that many of the birds build their nests on the water.
She said: “As a conservation biologist, I cannot say that 18 kayaks will not disturb these birds.
“They are already disturbed by walkers and dogs, if they’ve got boats and kayaks around them they will be disturbed at all angles.
“The YMCA’s survey confirms there are bird using the lake than ever before.
“Doing the right thing would be to let them thrive.”
The SWAN group is set to host a candle and lantern vigil at the site to “shine a light about how important the lake is for people’s mental health” on October 30.
The group has handed in two petitions to Balderton Parish Council, the most recent of which gained almost 4,000 signatures.
Up to 16 kayaks could go out on the lake at one time, which SWAN says could cause “significant disturbance to the birds during the breeding season”.
The YMCA says it will run activities to “advocate inclusion by empowering young people, especially those who are vulnerable or from disadvantaged backgrounds”.
Todd Cauthorn, Executive Director at YMCA Newark & Sherwood, said: “We recently conducted a comprehensive independent report led by expert ecologists who have assured us that no impact or harm will come to local wildlife through our proposed plans at Balderton Lake.
“We have published the report in full on our website and we have committed to an additional water survey at the end of the year as part of our ongoing efforts to go above and beyond to protect the local environment.”
Ben Seal, Head of Access & Environment at British Canoeing, added: “Fundamentally, people care for what they love, but they only love what they know.
“The young people who will come to the lake to enjoy paddling activities with their peers will create a connection to nature that may last long in their memories.
“The fact that they can do this close to home will hopefully encourage them to be advocates for the protection of the environment in the future.”
