A MOTORBIKE and a pram were among rubbish pulled from a former clay pit near Southam during efforts to make it more wildlife-friendly.
Divers from Warwickshire began their ‘Midlands Pool Project’ clean-up operation, starting with Blue Pool which forms part of a Warwickshire Wildlife Trust site at Bishop’s Hill.
The pool was once part of the old Harbury Cement Works which closed in 1970 and has since been established as an important site for wildlife.
The trust took it over 18 months ago and is starting to control scrub on the grassland and clear up the pool in a bid to create different habitats to attract more wildlife.
The divers were given permission by the trust to explore and survey the pool and carry out a clean up.
Together with the motorbike and pram, they collected barbecues, shoes, a football, golf balls, clay pigeons, fishing line, drinks cans and bottles, plastic bags and fishing line.
They also found the lake bed covered by a layer of fine silt of some 30cm deep.
Just one perch – a common freshwater fish – was seen and a few other fish were spotted near the surface. They also recorded zebra mussels – an invasive non-native species.
The divers hope to discover more wildlife when they return during warmer weather.
The trust has set up a volunteer group which meets Mondays to help look after the nature reserve. Email [email protected] for more information.
Visit www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/BishopsHill for more information about the nature reserve.
