Best Birdwatching Sites 2004
Date: 31st March 2005
The British Trust for
Ornithology recently announced the results of the BTO-Hanson Business Bird
Challenge 2004 – the competition to find the country’s best industrial and
commercial sites for birds. An impressive total of 259 species was recorded
across the sites by local birdwatchers working with company staff.
The Challenge
Over 90 business sites took part in the BTO-Hanson Business Bird Challenge 2004.
This competition recognises the sensitive management of industrial sites across
the country, which is reflected in the diversity and number of bird species
using these sites.
The Challenge attracted
businesses from a wide range of industries, from aggregate, water and power
companies to agricultural, research and commercial. It was good to see some
friendly competition, both within and between companies.
Entries were divided into
eleven categories, reflecting the sizes and diversity of participating sites.
Competition was often intense and in some cases only three species separated the
winner from the runner up.
The eleven winners of the
different categories were as follows:
| Winning
Sites |
Category |
County |
No.
of species |
Ripon Quarry (Hanson Aggregates) |
Quarry |
North Yorks |
149 |
| Brockholes Quarry
(Hanson Aggregates) |
Medium Quarry |
Lancs |
148 |
| Little Paxton Quarry (Bardon
Aggregates) |
Large Quarry |
Cambs |
158 |
| Borras Quarry (Tarmac
Central) |
Dry Quarry |
Clwyd |
74 |
| Greatham Works (Huntsman
Tioxide) |
Commercial |
Cleveland |
149 |
| Sizewell B (British
Energy) |
Power Station |
Suffolk |
150 |
| Ogston Reservoir (Severn
Trent Water) |
Wetland |
Derbys |
159 |
| Farmoor Reservoir
(Thames Water) |
Large Wetland |
Oxon |
153 |
| Lound Quarry (Tarmac
Central) |
Major Wetland |
Notts |
188 |
| Dungeness Nature Reserve
(Hanson) |
Restoration |
Kent |
160 |
| Pollybell Farms (Lovedon
Estates) |
Research & Light
Industry |
Notts |
143 |
Announcing these results, Helen
Kramer, the Challenge organiser for the British Trust for Ornithology said:
“The remarkable number of
species found at participating sites reflects the sensitive habitat management
taking place at commercial sites throughout the UK. All the winners should be
proud of their achievements. To attract 74 species to a small site with no
wetland area is as impressive as drawing 188 species to a major wetland.
Congratulations to all involved.”
The Challenge was sponsored for
a second time by leading quarrying company Hanson. David Weeks, Head of
Communications said:
“Once again the Challenge
emphasises that business, and particularly the minerals industry through the
restoration and management of its sites, makes a huge contribution towards
biodiversity in the UK.”
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