Tern Raft at Big Lodge Yarrow Valley Park
Common Term
In 2008 the Society applied to the Green Partnership Awards Scheme for funding to construct a Tern Raft. The purpose of this raft is to encourage Common Terns to nest at Big Lodge Yarrow Valley Park.
The Green Partnership Awards Scheme covers all areas of Lancashire and gives support to practical environmental projects, as well as projects that develop awareness and educate on environmental issues.
A similar raft has been in place at Doffcocker Lodge, Bolton for some years. Terns have used this for breeding, and it is in the hope of similar success that our application was made.
At present Common Terns pass through the Chorley area and often feed at Birkacre and other local waters, but have never been known to nest. We believe that there is a good chance that birds will find this raft and colonise it. Terns should begin to pass through the area in early May.
Building the Tern Raft
We were very grateful to the Green Partnership for their support and also to the staff at the Visitor Centre at Yarrow Valley Park (and especially to Rangers Darren Moore and John Bolton), who were able to construct and float the raft for us.
Black Headed Gulls on the Tern Raft
Green Partnership
It proved an immediate hit with the Black Headed Gulls which winter at Birkacre, as can be seen on the photograph shown here.
We feel that even this makes the project worthwhile, as it makes the gulls more visible to the public.
We stress that without the help of the Green Partnership, this project could not have been funded.