Lucy Wood reports…
NORTH East Lincolnshire-based James (Jim) Elliott, known as the Canoe River Cleaner, regularly takes to his local waterways in a canoe to clear litter and fly-tipping, conduct wildlife surveys and more, all the while promoting the well-being benefits of being outdoors.
Among the environmental issues he highlights, he campaigns heavily about using nutritionally rich alternatives to bread to feed birds and wildfowl. This has included placing QR code plaques at feeding spots around where he lives to provide information about the correct diets.
“If we’re going to supplement their food, we should at least make sure it’s healthy,” he said.
“In places where there’s very little natural food due to concrete-sided ponds, for example, birds rely on what we give them. That’s why it’s vital that we feed them properly. Bread won’t kill them, but we all know it’s not the right thing to do. Food isn’t just about filling them up; nutrition is key to health and development.
“The message seems to be sinking in. I’m seeing a big decrease in the amount of people using bread as the primary food, which is great to see. A tiny bit of bread given to our wildfowl who have an abundance of natural food isn’t a massive issue. That said, on our ornamental ponds with little to no marginal vegetation in which to forage, it’s vital that we give them correct food as we are the only source.
“With just a little bit more effort, we can give our birds nutritious food with good fats to help them through the winter. We know what to feed our songbirds in our gardens, so this should directly translate to our ducks, swans and geese. If the weather allows, it’s always better for brittle beaks to feed them in the water, and not on concrete. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to make the right choices for our beautiful birds.”
Ahead of World Wetland Day in early February, Jim and a group of volunteers helped clear vegetation to stop scrub encroaching on reed beds in a small area of wetland in central Grimsby. To find out more about the Canoe River Cleaner, visit www.thecanoerivercleaner.co.uk
