Fire crews and the RSPCA had to be called out last week after a bird got trapped in wire put in the River Welland as part of a project to attract more wildlife.
The coir rolls have been installed by the East Mercia Rivers Trust as part of the Spalding Reconnected: Historic Town and Riverside project which aims to brighten the riverside area.
A spokesman for the trust told The Voice that the coil is put around where plants are to grow and is meant to stop birds from eating the seeds.
At 11.47am on Tuesday (March 11) fire and rescue crews from Kirton and Spalding Fire and Rescue attended near the Taku Bridge after a report of a moorhen being trapped.
They had to call out a ‘technical rescue vehicle’ based at Spalding, aka a boat.
RSPCA animal rescue officer John Woods, said: “The bird was safely rescued and taken to our RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre for rehabilitation and care, where it is still recovering.
“I would like to thank the firefighters for their dedication and professionalism.
“It was amazing to see how much they cared about wildlife, and a great reminder of what we can achieve together for animal welfare.”
The Spalding Reconnected Project is led by South Holland District Council after receiving National Lottery funding.
The coir rolls contain seeds for plants include yellow flag iris and purple loosestrife.
Rachel Butler, the executive director of the East Mercia Rivers Trust, said the group would investigate how the bird became trapped.
“These cages, installed as part of the Spalding Reconnected Project, are intended to prevent birds from consuming the new, vulnerable plants whilst they are in their early stages of growth.
“Once the habitat is established, after the summer, the cages will be removed and from then it will provide food and cover for the birds and other aquatic animals as well as improving the aesthetic appeal of the area.
“Coir rolls are commonly used to enhance habitats in regions where fully restoring a river to its natural state is difficult, particularly where banks are artificial.
“The cage design deployed in this case is specifically intended to be a closed system, preventing any entry altogether. East Mercia Rivers Trust has contacted the contractor to investigate how the moorhen gained access and to seal any potential breaches in the cages. The contractor has confirmed they will visit the site this week as a matter of urgency.
“EMRT work to improve habitats for the benefit of wildlife, this is counter to our aims and ethos and sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to the RSPCA and fire brigade, as well as the distress experienced by the moorhen.
“Any learning from this experience will be taken forward into future projects to ensure this does not happen again.”
Picture of the coil where the moorhen had to be rescued from.
