The Wildlife Trusts! Friend’s of our environment, or incubating a serious problem? Well needless to say, I think the latter. I believe the so-called Wildlife ‘Nature Reserves’ where many lakes or ponds that were once clean, well stocked with fish and other species where they actually took care of their own lifestyle, have now become a serious threat to us here in the UK. You might well ask why I consider them a threat and exactly what is this developing problem? So do please read on and then take whatever action you consider necessary to make your views known.
Apparently the local Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK, Isle of Man and Alderney number 47 in total. They have some 765,000 members and claim to be ‘working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone’. They also claim to be ‘the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species’. Their website http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/ proudly boasts ‘Protecting Wildlife for the future’. But how about some consideration for us, the human species? How about protecting those of us who frequent these areas of natural beauty only to be confronted by the filthy, stinking, oxygen sapping weed-filled dead pond, or lake, which in fact bears a closer resemblance to a stinking cess-pit! These areas of water, apart from being used as a dumping ground are generally left to stagnate and as a consequence, red and white algae can develop during the hot summer months.
Often the local’s who use these areas as an exercise yard for their dogs are very happy to allow their beloved pets to swim in the water and/or drink from it. I wonder if they would be so happy if they knew that the red and white algae make’s the water very toxic, for dogs especially! Whilst writing, might I suggest that these ‘responsible owners’ clean up after their pets rather than leave faeces on the pathway for the children and others to tread in and ultimately take home! Further, leaving it in little bags hanging on the trees and hedgerow is not acceptable either. It is in fact a despicable thing to do, although I guess you can blame the Wildlife Trust for not providing appropriate bins for disposal.
But there is a bigger problem lurking in and around these filthy waters! Areas such as the C. S. Lewis Nature Reserve in Risinghurst, Headington, Oxford are being allowed to deteriorate by the Wildlife Trust to such an extent that they are in my opinion quickly becoming a health hazard to us all. Local schools are regularly represented by groups of very small children who are totally unprepared for their visit to the ‘Land of Narnia’. The girls can often be seen wearing short summer dresses and a short sleeved blouse, whilst the boys are wearing short trousers and a short sleeved shirt, and often not a sun hat between them! The children can be seen carrying little fishing nets which they will paddle back and forth in the water to catch water shrimps, tadpoles, small frogs at best because the Wildlife Trust refuse to stock the lake with fish, because they eat the flies. Umm, err yes okay! The children naturally, are blissfully unaware of the dangers of the filthy water. However, a far bigger threat comes from literally thousands of Mosquito’s, horse flies and ticks in the area. So apart from the stench of the water, the toxicity of the water caused by the red and white algae, dog faeces on the pathway, a bigger threat are the Mosquito’s who could potentially be carriers of West Nile Virus (WNV) which can affect humans in different ways, although the virus may not be in the UK yet!
West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus of the family Flaviviridae. Part of the Japanese encephalitis (JE) antigenic complex of viruses, it is found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, squirrels, domestic rabbits and other species. The main route of human infection is through the bite of an infected Mosquito.
WNV symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, excessive sweating, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, drowsiness, pain in the joints and symptoms like those of the common cold. Occasionally there is a rash and gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and/or diarrhea. The more dangerous encephalitis is characterized by similar early symptoms, but also a decreased level of consciousness, sometimes approaching a near coma. More recent outbreaks have resulted in a deeper study of the disease and other, rarer, outcomes have been identified. The spinal cord may be infected, marked by anterior myelitis (polio-like syndrome) with or without encephalitis. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_virus
If we escape the threat of WNV in the UK and I don’t believe we will (unless that is the Wildlife Trusts clean up their act regarding these areas) then that will be some sort of a miracle. It really is that serious and I like to think I am speaking on behalf of all UK citizens, the majority of whom wouldn’t ordinarily have knowledge of this time bomb. Am I qualified to comment? Well yes I think I am, having spent over 21 years in the Pest Control Industry. However, don’t rely on me alone why not contact the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) for an opinion.
We then need to consider the Horse fly. I for one (as an adult that is) let alone it being a small child, require emergency treatment in the event that I am bitten by a horse fly and carry medication on a daily basis to counter the effects, as well as having to cope with the after effects; the swelling and itching that soon pushes the poison further around the body as you scratch the area of the bite! Why put your children through this? As a minimum, an insect repellent should be used before you enter such areas.
The bite from a larger specimen of the Horse fly is extremely painful, especially considering the light, agile, and airborne nature of the fly. Unlike insects which surreptitiously puncture the skin with needle-like organs, horse flies have mandibles like tiny serrated scimitars, which they use to rip and/or slice flesh apart. This causes the blood to seep out as the horsefly licks it up. They may even carve a chunk completely out of the victim, to be digested at leisure. The horsefly's modus operandi is less secretive than that of its mosquito counterparts, although it still aims to escape before pain signals reach their mark's sphere of awareness. Moreover, the pain of a horsefly bite may mean that the victim is more concerned with assessing and repairing the wound, than finding and swatting the interloper. The bites become extremely itchy and they may bite more than once. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-fly
Then we need to consider the Tick, a tiny spider like creature that can live in woodland, moorland and areas such as the Reserves mentioned. Potentially adults, our children and our beloved pet dog could be at risk from Lyme Disease whilst venturing into areas such as those owned by the Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK and/or indeed the countryside generally. It seems Lyme disease is fairly uncommon here in the UK although it does appear to be occurring more frequently according to some. Ticks carry bacteria that if transferred to the human can cause serious illness affecting the nervous system, joints and heart! Ticks may well be active throughout the year so there is no ‘safe’ period.
Having got this far it occurred to me that there might be a website to answer a few questions on the subject of ‘Ticks’ that you can peruse at your leisure and thus saving me considerable time. So my thanks to http://www.wadhurst.demon.co.uk/lyme/lyme3.htm where the following questions and answers are very helpful.
The ticks cling to ends of vegetation and wave their legs around hoping to latch on to a passing animal or person - so your first defence is to keep your skin covered. If a tick attaches itself to your clothing, it may crawl around for some time before making contact with your skin. Wear long trousers tucked into socks if possible, long-sleeved shirts and light coloured clothes will help you spot ticks and brush them off. Insect repellent on clothing and repellent collars for pets may help. Inspect for ticks every few hours and if possible at the end of your day's outdoor activity, undress and completely check your body for ticks.
What if I am bitten? Remove the tick as soon as possible by grasping it close to the skin with tweezers. Apply gentle pressure, twisting anti-clockwise upwards, repeating if necessary. Part of the tick may remain embedded, but you will have prevented the tick transferring the infection to you. (Save the tick in a sealed container in case you develop symptoms later.)
Should I see my Doctor? During early signs of Lyme disease you may see a reddish round rash (erythema migrans) in the area of the bite (The rash starts three to thirty days later). Symptoms may resemble influenza (flu) with swollen glands near the site. Mild headaches, aching muscles, joints and tiredness are all additional symptoms. If left untreated the disease may develop over months and even years, when eventually facial muscle weakness, meningitis-like symptoms and/or arthritis symptoms may occur. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics and the earlier it is diagnosed, the better.
Hopefully by now, you are beginning to understand my concerns, but the bottom line is that the Wildlife Trusts are presiding over areas of land and water that if anything like the C. S. Lewis Reserve at Risinghurst will in my opinion, be responsible for West Nile Virus becoming a huge problem here in the UK as our climate gets hotter, as well as the matter of the Ticks and Horse Flies. My message to the Wildlife Trust is clean up your act regarding these stinking areas such as the C. S. Lewis Reserve and let the public enjoy the areas that you own, in the knowledge that you are doing as much as you can to keep them safe from the three potential problems referred to here.
