Walton Hall Park
Today, I visited Walton Hall Park / Liverpool. The Park can trace its origins to the 12th century. but the park as we know it today, was opened in 1934, by King George V, when he visited the city for the opening of the original Mersey Tunnel. Although a relatively small park, compared with others around the city, it does have some good aspects, and a ‘Friends of’ group https://www.facebook.com/friendsofwaltonhallpark who have some great initiatives in operation for the wildlife and some of the birds, including nest boxes and wildfower meadows…
However…
I was surprised by this misinformation, spread all around the park, by the ‘Friends’ group, stopping children from feeding the wildfowl which visit the park waters…
Angel Wing
This disease, is a genetic disease passed from generation to generation, although it is more prevelant in wildfowl, it is not restricted to that species group, and in fact it has been recorded in ‘raptors’ who dont eat bread, and who’s diet is high in protien.
Birds which have this condition have a deformity in the carpus joint of the wing, this condition twists the wing outwards, the result of this, is the bird cannot fly, and the wildfowl especially, then tend to congregate in areas were they rely on humans to feed them.
As the birds enter the breeding season, they mate and pass on the genetic defect to their offspring… thus perpetuating the myth, that the act of feeding bread from humans, causes the disease.
Feeding birds bread.
The poster states that feeding birds bread is a ‘Danger to Ducks’… this once again is total misinformation. In hard times for our ‘city’ birds especially wildfowl, such as winter and into spring, wildfowl find their natural food somewhat scarce, so bread is a good supplement to tide them over this harsh period in the birds year… and in fact I hear many reports, where posters of this nature, put up by people who know little of the facts, deter the public so much from feeding wildfowl in city parks, that they slowly starve to death because of the practice.
More poster misinformation
It is stated that bread rots in the water, and reduces water quality… the fact is… the fish, and other pondlife including aerobic organisms in the water, consume it as part of their own dietary regime.
The poster also states this practice encourages rats… The fact that the bird tables around the park are so low… this in itself allows rats an easy and readily available way of getting to the grain which they love… way above picking up a few pieces of soggy bread in the water.
Luckily, very few visitors to the park, take notice of the impromptu ‘friends’ notices
And the Wildfowl… definately ignore them…lol
Talking to the anglers around the park lake and pond, I gather they are well stocked with Carp, Roach, Perch etc… with carp 20lb+… but they are tired of ‘Friends’ members rushing over, and frankley abusing them, stating that they have no right to fish in the Park, and demanding they pack up their gear and leave the Public park forthwith… Errrr REALLY….
I walked around the lake and pond and saw no… ‘NO FISHING’ signs on show, so are the ‘Friends’ making up their own rules in this park… One post on their ‘Friends of’ Fb site was even calling for anglers to be BANNED from the park completely… how very sad !!!
Surely the purpose of any active ‘Friends’ park group should be to enhance the visitor experience for ALL visitors to the Park… not just the ones they deem worthy… What a shame !
But visiting the park is really worth a visit if you have not done so already, only look out for the ‘Friends of” Park Police… especially if you like Wildfowl or Fish, as I’m sure the Friends Group would really like to eradicate the lot!… what next? dog walkers?