Granta RANT

[mrs jellyby]

Yesterday, a group of boys were out enjoying their half-term break with a leisurely stroll through the village.
Sadly, they were strolling along the river, doing their best to mess it up and the wildlife.
Led by a tall, red-haired specimen with the ability to insert the f word between every other word he grunted, they were pulling compost heaps into the water and collecting all the duck eggs from the nests along the banks. The eggs were simply being thrown into the water or gardens.
A friend downstream had her garden entered by some of the boys. They didn't seem overly concerned about their actions when challenged.

[davidd]

What happened to the lady who told them to get out of her garden?

[triffic]

Check the RSB web-site at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/nesting_mallards/index.aspx

It includes this information: "Mallards and their nests are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young.

Therefore, it is important not to chase away a duck that has started nesting, since she must be allowed access to her nest. If you find a nest full of eggs, you must not interfere with them. "

The boys would appear to have been breaking the law and could have ended up in the Magistrates Court.

Does anyone from the village school(s) monitor this forum? Alternatively, could the person who observed this illegal behaviour get in contact with the appropriate school, to ensure that the schoolchildren know about the laws that protect wild birds and the environment?

[mrs jellyby]

David- nothing physically happened to the lady. They were seemingly unaware that the lawn, surrounded by flower beds and numerous pots with plants growing was not part of the river bank (!). Apart from the swearing, they weren't apologetic and slowly shuffled off, after my friend gave them one of her special glares- she's a retired schoolteacher! They were told in no uncertain terms that the eggs they were interfering with were now effectively useless.

Triffic- I don't know if any teachers read this forum. When it's been suggested in the past that one or two of her students may occasionally transgress, the principal of the village college has reacted with some rigour. Rest assured, however, that she will hear of this.

[triffic]

addendum:

Shouldn't school teachers make it clear to pupils what the law prohibits, and how undesirable it is to leave school with a criminal record?

---
" The maximum penalty that can be imposed for an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act - in respect of a single bird, nest or egg - is a fine of up to £5,000, and/or six months' imprisonment.

"What can I do?
Have you seen a crime against a wild bird? Use this form to report a wildlife crime to us.

"Reporting form"
---

The above is on the RSPB page: http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/wca/index.aspx

[charlie big potatoes]

 kids being kids. How did the parents ever get them out of there bedrooms.Your lucky you never lived by the river in the 60s and 70s when kids used the river as a play ground.As for giving them all crimnal records 

[Merrell]

"kids being kids"

It's not as simple as that.  The fact is that they're behaving in an appalling and unacceptable manner.  If the consequences and implications of what they've done aren't pointed out to them, they might go on to do even worse things.   Did the parents know where their children were, and what they were doing?

"Your lucky you never lived by the river in the 60s and 70s when kids used the river as a play ground"

There's a difference between using somewhere as a playground - which might have accidental consequences for wildlife - and wantonly destroying nests.

[davidd]

If I may be blunt....

They want their arses kicked...

[Numbnut]

For the eggs, the compost and the trespass I agree entirely - for the playing in the river I say, good on em.

[davidd]

Oh yes I'm rather pleased they have dragged themselves away from their consoles and are actually outside. Shame about the other stuff..

[charlie big potatoes]

  A kick up the arse would be the best way.But would put you up before the beak. Maybe the infant school could get a dozen fertile chicken eggs and hatch them out with the children.Perhaps then the kids of today would not think eggs come from tescos. But with todays health and safty  perhaps thats not possible.

[Hlis]

The children at the infant school are far more caring than this behaviour suggests and i very much doubt that parents would allow young children to play unsupervised by the river bank. It is a shame the value of care, kindness and love seem to be lost so early in life, but then respect and trust seem to lost as well. Today's society expects our young people to behave badly so guess what? I look forward to an entry on the forum speaking positively about it's community, particularly those young people who are good kids! Having eggs to hatch in school would of course further promote positive values and it has been considered but the cost implications are significant, last time investigated it was in the region of £100.

[davidd]

Hlis, I don't think anyone is suggesting that it is infants doing this, I suspect it is the 'yoofs' like the sort having a bonfire on comaping close, sorry ye olde village green.

[NotaDailyMailreader]

We are very lucky to have excellent schools in our village. The Infant School, for example, has once again achieved 'Outstanding' status from Ofsted.

As for these children misbehaving by the river, the responsibility for their behaviour lies with their parents, not their schools. I don't know how old these youngsters were but if they are old enough to be out unsupervised (in which case, older than Infant School age), they are old enough to know you don't remove eggs from nests and throw them in the river. A serious warning ought to persuade them not to do it again, I'd have thought. Hopefully, the lady whose garden was invaded might have said enough.

[towerview]

I agree totally with last comment - it is not the responsibility of our schools to teach our kids everything they need to know - parents have ultimate responsibility.
Schools need to train brains and expand minds- parents need to teach morals and behaviour. Unfortunately there are large numbers of moronic parents around who don't give a monkeys so chances are they are producing same type of kids - schools are having to pick up the pieces but can hardly be expected to accept the blame. Who would want to be a teacher nowadays with these type of parents about..!!