NEWS
Recycled plastic raft from Fusion Marine aids nesting terns
Terns are particularly
vulnerable at nesting time, with predation by animals and disturbance
by people a real problem. Common terns used to breed at the Herts
& Middlesex Wildlife Trust's reserve at Broadwater in the Colne
Valley, and in a bid to attract the birds back, the Trust has just
installed two nesting rafts made from recycled plastic.
Manufactured
by Oban-based Fusion Marine Ltd, the 3x3m square rafts feature vertical
edges to discourage predation from mink and are covered in gravel
to mimic the natural nesting habitat of terns.
The recycled
plastic construction means that the rafts are environmentally-friendly
and are durable with little maintenance required.
"We are
currently using wooden rafts on other reserves but we were attracted
to recycled plastic because it fitted our sustainability criteria
as well as being tough and long-lasting," says Rob Hopkins,
Reserves Officer South for the Trust.
"These
ground-nesting birds formerly bred on the shoreline at Broadwater
when it was a newly dug gravel pit, but the shore areas have now
been colonised by trees and shrubs, making rafts the best option
for attracting them back. Terns are colonial breeders and each raft
could attract up to five nesting pairs."
| "We
were delighted to have had the opportunity to custom-build these
rafts to meet the Trust's specific requirements," states
Alan Macleod, Fusion Marine technical director. |
Fusion Marine
is a specialist in a wide range of bespoke recycled plastic walkways,
fences, bridges and waymarking posts - ideal for conservation organisations
and for other recreational uses.
"We were
delighted to have had the opportunity to custom-build these rafts
to meet the Trust's specific requirements," states Alan Macleod,
Fusion Marine technical director.
"Recycled
plastic is a sustainable and versatile product that can be used
for wide variety of different applications. It is durable and long-lasting,
making it more cost-effective and durable than wooden alternatives."
|
