Shropshire bird of prey feeding area plans under fire

A hide and feeding area for red kites is hoped to be installed at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms, but objectors have said that, far from being good for wildlife, it may mean the birds will become a nuisance.

Robin Pote, of Ludlow Swift Group, is among those who have objected, saying the local red kite population is already increasing and does not need the support.

He said the venture is only to "exploit a wild, protected species for commercial gain".

"It is ecologically unsound and detrimental to birds to aim to feed irregularly," he said, "Large scavenging raptors like kites very quickly become wedded to a feeding station and will soon be arriving at feeding times regardless of food being available or not.

"Rotting pieces of meat are inevitable in a situation like this, as is the fact that the kites, and all the other scavenging birds attracted to this free food, will defecate over the area, including the plants being grown for human consumption."

But Valerie Meehan, centre manager, said there had been a misunderstanding. "We won't be going out there with huge buckets of meat," she said, adding that it would not be a large-scale "feeding station" attracting a mob of kites, but simply a small feeding area next to a hide, to help guarantee bird watchers a sighting.

The application will be decided by Shropshire Council's South Planning Committee on Tuesday.