Christine emailed me saying …
Please can I suggest that you turn your lens and wise words on Abbey Meadows, specifically the play and picnic area around the lido, children’s fountain and small cafe kiosk. The area used to be a popular picnic area and was always full of families enjoying a meal or playing. For the last months it has been virtually deserted as the whole area is thickly crusted with goose poo ! I don’ t think, in all the years we have lived in Abingdon we have seen so many geese, of several varieties, and so many goslings as this year. The authorities have banned dogs and there are cattle grids to keep them out but the goose droppings and feathers especially all over the concrete of the fountains, are a bigger health hazard as well as being unsightly. A cull is needed at best or, if that is too contentious, then encouraging the geese to go elsewhere.
I went down there this evening when a group of Canada geese were just leaving and the area was thickly crusted with pooh, and even some pooh was around the interactive water feature.
There is a notice to say ‘do not feed the geese‘. However geese love eating short grass and the grass is kept very short here. One solution would be to allow the grass to grow long. Or replace it with artificial grass. Both ideas could have a down side.
Dogs love to chase geese but as Christine says they are not allowed in this area, and could not be expected to patrol overnight in any case.
Could the Vale of White Horse District Council do a cleanup then find some way of keeping geese away 24X7 until September .
Are there any goose epidemic experts who can help?
