For all the Clapham locals, I'm sure a good few have seen the diminutive older lady who feeds the geese, ducks and assorted birds by both of the ponds at the Common (her name is Barbara). I happened to stop and chat to her last week and she was extremely distressed as the local 'ranger' for the Common (I think his name is Mr Bolton) was seen pouring cement into an alcove where the ducklings which the ducklings used to get out of the pond - effectively - and deliberately - drowning them. There are only a couple of ducklings left now, the ones who didn't drown have been allegedly removed by a man who was seen over several nights picking off the remaining ducklings and putting them in a bag (to eat? to sell???) and despite calls to the council nothing has been done at all.
In the same timespan the ducklings were killed Mr Bolton hacked down all of the reeds by the smaller pond (nearest Abbeville Village), removing the vital habitat for the remaining geese and ducks (as well as the pleasant and almost bucolic view!). A pair of Egyptian geese with one gosling are struggling to survive as the area is looking like a wasteland and they have no protection from the Canadian geese (who have been trying to kill the gosling); the random groups of (aggressive) fisherman don't really help either.
It is bizarre to me that the Common -which seems to be undergoing revitalisation in other areas (replanting/community gardens etc) is so oblivious to the wildlife it is so lucky to have. Did anyone else notice the ducklings drown/get taken? If our community doesn't stick up for them they will simply disappear altogether and it's disgusting that the Council is not seeking to protect them.
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