On Thursday evening I joined members and representatives of the RSPB at RSPB Northwood Hill to listen to local nightingales’ song following their return from a winter in Africa. Recently I had the pleasure and honour of becoming one of the RSPB’s Nightingale Species Champion, given the importance of our local habitat to their existence and which is sadly under threat. In late 2015, the species was listed as Critically Endangered on the UK Red List meaning now more than ever greater protection is needed.
The RSPB have long done a fantastic job of maintaining these habitats for many bird species around Medway. Our area is vital to countless birds who use our local woodlands and marshes for breeding and nesting, and without RSPB’s tireless support we would noticeably see a negative difference in sights and sounds we have loved since a young age.
I was delighted that the nightingales were indeed in full song, showing to us all their ability to flourish in the face of much local adversity. It has been proposed that areas across the Hoo Peninsula, such as the protected nightingale site at Lodge Hill, will be the subject of significant development, which will pose major environmental challenges to habitats needed by nightingales and other species alike.
While it is clear that housing developments are necessary, I dispute the plans for 5000 homes at Lodge Hill where there would be a significant impact on our natural environment and local infrastructure. Medway is a densely populated urban area, but we are still lucky to have some amazing pockets of tranquil countryside with an abundance of wildlife. It would be devastating for Medway to lose special sites like these; once they are gone we cannot get them back!
I will continue to urge both our local and national government to take effective action to reduce proposed housing numbers to a sustainable level while committing to improving protections of our local green spaces.