Shreya Bhide, aged 13 years old, was one of our inspiring young speakers at last night’s demonstration
You can watch Shreya’s speech by clicking on this link, or read it below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrKwLB7FlEs
Ecosystems are vital to our planet’s wellbeing and provide the foundations for our existence
They are our existence, but they are fragile. They can adapt, but with what the council are planning, it will rid the ecosystems in Maidenhead of a greenspace that could potentially be priceless.
Now, if I talked about all the amazing species that reside in this town, we’d be hear till Christmas! So, I am going to focus on a few that really stand out.
The lemon slug is one of the 40 species of slugs found in the UK
Slugs and snails are key parts of the woodland ecosystem, and they provide food for many animals. However, they rely on numerous trees, plants and fungi.
The lemon slug is a bit picky with what food it has
The fungus-loving slug requires ancient woodland to survive. With woodland that is old enough for it taking up only two per cent of the UK, protecting the little that remains is vital to its survival. Even if the lemon slug isn’t our neighbour, there are so many more species that are like this and need Maidenhead Golf Course to survive.
The longest-lived bat in the UK
Now, onto another animal. A bat. The greater horseshoe bat to be precise. This bat is the longest-lived bat in the UK and is now becoming scarce because of loss of habitat and loss of their food. It is rare with an estimated population of just under 13,000.
Their numbers have declined dramatically since 1900
The loss of woodland and hedgerows, and use of pesticides are all threats, depriving bats of hunting grounds and reducing numbers of their prey.
Bechstein’s bat is also another bat that is threatened by the cutting down of woodlands
Evidence suggests that this bat was once one of the UK’s most common bats, but the loss of woodland across the country means its range and population has been reduced significantly. The current population is estimated at just 21,000.
There are so many species of bat living at the golf course
There may be hundreds of either of these species of bats and if this golf course goes, their habitat and the bats themselves, will be lost.
Well, this speech is coming to an end. I really hope that I have helped you understand the impacts that getting rid of the golf course will have on our amazingly diverse ecosystem. The council doesn’t understand that by building this unnecessary housing they are destroying the lives of hundreds and thousands of animals that keep our earth alive.
Thank you.