Update: Tuesday, 2 February 2021.

We had our meeting (‘Save North Shields Kittiwakes’) by Zoom Video Conference on Tuesday 26 January for 76 minutes. Twenty four invitations went out and a dozen people attended including five members of the Tyne Kittiwake Partnership, Council Biodiversity Officer, a Ward Councillor, three residents of neighbouring property, Wild Intrigue plus representation from ‘Kittiwakes upon the Tyne’. Those who sent apologies included two MPs (for Tynemouth and for North Tyneside), three Ward Councillors, three residents (two properties) and the landlord of the building with netting.

Reason for the meeting: To discuss the new netting installed on Ferry Mews in December 2020. It was placed as a deterrent to a small group of nesting pairs of Kittiwakes, but gave these gulls no time or opportunity to consider and plan a nearby relocation.

Of the many points raised, here are three:

    1) People must be aware the Kittiwake is a protected and declining species.

    2) No resolution for the Kittiwakes was discussed before the netting was implemented. This should not be possible.

    3) ... ... strange that the landlord was able to block the nesting site of a protected bird – with nobody able to stop it.  ... ... it was not in the spirit of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the sort of occurrence that ought not be allowed to happen.

The discussion went well. We discussed pros and cons while many useful suggestions were raised, but we could only go so far without the presence of the landlord. Minutes of the meeting were recorded for later distribution to invitees.

The landlord has subsequently agreed to discuss [the matter] so we are trying to arrange one or two meetings with him and up to three other participants. Let’s hope we can fully engage and make useful progress.

Thank you again for your support in this matter. We may need to call for your help with some associated fund-raising.

With Best Wishes from Daniel and the Kittiwakes of North Shields