Welcome To The Kingfisher Wildlife Diaries – John Bailey
February 1st 2010
All Systems Go
Right, winter is on the wane and at Kingfishers we are absolutely determined to crack on with the conservation area to the north of the apartments. We have loads of initiatives in mind that will totally transform the sixty-five acres of river and lake wetland over the next months and years. What we're aiming to do is provide a true sanctuary for both wildlife and our visitors. And we also want to promote the concept that conservation and angling can co-exist in perfect harmony. All good anglers are naturalists at heart so there is no real conflict of interest. Of course, we'll be taking lots of advice from all sorts of people in the months to come and through this column we will detail exactly the progress we're making and the thought processes behind all our initiatives. We've got a lot to learn, of course, and don't hesitate to email in if you think we are getting it wrong or what we are doing could be improved.
I'm actually at my study now looking out of my window towards the bleak North Norfolk coast. There are two absolutely fabulous cock pheasants rummaging around under my quince tree. Evidently the rotting fruit there are much to their taste. I don't know what you think about pheasants. An alien species of course. Introduced for shooting, too. But for me, these glorious splashes of colour lift an otherwise bleak, grey afternoon. If they stay in my garden, I guess they'll be safe for another year and bring me hours of viewing pleasure.