Vandals have ruined important equipment at a South Cumbrian nature reserve.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust said it was devastated to discover the vandalism at Foulney Island Nature Reserve, near Barrow.
Intruders damaged around £300-worth of equipment for the electric fence in place to protect rare birds.
There were no witnesses and the police have been informed. Zoe Barrett, seasonal warden at Foulney Island Nature Reserve, said: “We were very shocked to discover that some important equipment at Foulney Island Nature Reserve had been vandalised.
“This nature reserve is an important site for a range of breeding terns, which travel huge distances to nest on the island’s shingle banks. As they are ground-nesting birds, this equipment is essential for protecting the nests and chicks from predators and from human disturbance. Without this protection, these important bird populations are at great risk, so we need to repair and replace the damage as soon as possible.”
Foulney Island, near Roa Island, is formed entirely of pebbles that were brought from the Lake District to the coast by glaciers during the last Ice Age. Once a true island, it is connected to the mainland by a causeway that was built in the 19th century to prevent the Walney Channel from silting up.
Foulney Island is best known for the Arctic terns and little terns which breed here, travelling vast distances to nest on the island’s shingle banks. Arctic terns migrate from Antarctica to breed around our shores, whilst little terns are our second rarest seabirds.
Other breeding birds here include ringed plover, oystercatcher, eider, skylark and meadow pipit.
To help Cumbria Wildlife Trust replace the damaged equipment, donate at https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/donate
