New Start

OK, so its about time I resurrected this Blog. I can't (or won't) promise to post regularly because unfortunately my life is not that ordered, and to be honest, I sometimes struggle for time! But, we'll see how it goes.

So, for starters I thought I'd start with a nice easy post about a pleasant days birding at Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve in Yorkshire.

I've been meaning to visit this site for years, but after watching a BBC short film with Gordon Buchanan filming seabirds, my daughter announced that she would really like to see a Puffin. That was about all the excuse I needed - I did cheat a bit and tell her that we might see porpoises as well - so all four of us headed off to East Yorkshire last Thursday.

After 2 1/2 hrs we arrived at a colder than expected Bempton Cliffs. Not something that bothers me but not great with kids. Nevertheless we enjoyed a good couple of hours birding (well I did) seeing all the expected species and a cracking scope filling view of a Puffin before the stiff and decidedly chilly south easterly got too much and we headed back to the small shop.

As we were waiting for a coffee a middle aged couple came to the entrance. The volunteer on the entrance asked if they were members and the bloke replied that they weren't so she told him that it would be five pounds for the parking. He sounded shocked, his partner was incredulous - the guy appeased her by making it sound like it was ok because they didn't have to pay an entry fee! It never ceases to amaze me that people often visit places like this with the expectation that its free. That they have a right to be able to visit these places. I can sort of understand the argument. It is after all 'countryside', and you don't pay to go to the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales. But these same people would (probably) not hesitate to put the coins in at the pay and display parking in their local town centre (and if Bridlington is anything to go by, it aint cheap in Yorkshire), or pay double that for a couple of coffee's at any of the well known coffee chains. It is, in my opinion, one of the main problems we face where nature conservation is concerned. Loads of people say they're 'green' and concerned about  biodiversity and global warming etc etc. But, the bottom line is people either do not understand that someone has to pay to protect our wildlife and special places, they don't understand why, or they just think someone else should do it.