Nature Features

But what we didn’t know as children, as we clutched our plastic bags of stale bread, was that this diet of ‘junk food’ could lead to problems for our wildlife.

Human food such as bread can sadly lead to sickness in birds and pollution in the lake.

Bread is low in protein and contains ingredients that waterfowl can’t digest properly and uneaten bread in the water creates perfect conditions for algae to thrive and multiply and it can use up the oxygen which the fish need to survive.

Also, large amounts of algae can cause the water to smell unpleasant and certain types of algae can be poisonous to pets if they drink from the lakes.

Excess

Excess bread left to rot on the banks will attract unwanted pests such as rats and foxes. Waterfowl and rats will leave droppings where they feed, so bread left at the edge of the lakes will attract artificially high numbers to the water’s edge and in turn will create an unhealthy environment for people visiting the site.

But as so many people have enjoyed feeding the birds at the lakeside – and still do  the council is seeking to encourage people to substitute “healthy snacks” of grain as a replacement for bread, rather than discourage people from this early interaction with the local wildlife,

In order to do this, throughout November, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and St Albans City and District Council are teaming up to provide local residents with a chance to learn how to help our feathered friends this winter.

Experts

Quackersnacks or bags of mixed corn, barley, wheat and maize can be purchased from the Inn on the Park (open 10am-5pm, 7 days a week), from most pet shops and from the ice cream van. Free information leaflets are available at the same locations and signs have been placed around the lake asking people not to feed the birds with bread.

The RSPB’s team of wildlife experts will be in the park from 10.00am – 4.00pm Wednesdays to Sundays providing information, children’s activities at the weekend and free advice on how to help all kinds of wildlife in your garden this winter.