Just days after the Journal published an article about scores of birdwatchers being attracted to the car park of Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre to observe waxwings (a rare visitor to the UK) feasting on rowan berries, contractors began uprooting the rowan trees, causing much consternation amongst the birding community.
- Original magazine article (Issuu)
- Online version with update about uprooting of the rowan trees (BSJ)
3 Rowan trees still remain at the Willow Brook Centre Bradley Stoke…Im having a meeting with the manager of the site next week. pic.twitter.com/iPuHFUiWPh
— Rod Holbrook (@Bigjohnatyeo) April 2, 2017
imagine what a berry crop would be like from healthy trees 🤔, can't help but think a bit of TLC would have gone a long way.
— (((Dave))) (@haddicand78) March 11, 2017
plenty of room to plant native species around the site, preferable those that produce berries!
— cliff smith (@01000011S) March 10, 2017
no chance for wildlife when we plant oriental rather than native. Depressing but that's suburbia
— Keith Davies (@1Kaith) March 10, 2017
@bri66thomp get real! be part of a solution. The waxwing will be back next yr. Spend £ on a few rowan trees round the edge.
— Lisegirl 👩🏻📸 (@lisegirl1) March 10, 2017
@bri66thomp poor response! How hard would it be to plant 10 Rowan's on the edge of car park for when they return. Shame!
— Lisegirl 👩🏻📸 (@lisegirl1) March 10, 2017
It's your decision if to or not remove the Trees. The Trees were in full fruit this year, as in previous years.
— Bri Thompson (@bri66thomp) March 10, 2017
Please follow the link for background to Rowan Trees removal https://t.co/nkJxUlbXR7
— Willow Brook, Bradley Stoke Shopping (@WB_Shopping) March 10, 2017
make the beds bigger and give them more root space then. Ornamental pear no use to birds.
— Penny 🌈 (@digitaldaisies) March 10, 2017
We appreciate the concern over the Rowan trees. The situation is quite complicated and will be explained in full tomorrow. Many thanks
— Willow Brook, Bradley Stoke Shopping (@WB_Shopping) March 9, 2017
@lisegirl1 @MattCollis9 But the tree have fruited every year and it's only the vandalised Trees that havent
— Bri Thompson (@bri66thomp) March 9, 2017
@AvonBirding @WillowBrookCtr this has really upset me .. poor beautiful Waxwings 😞
— Chrissie Mulligan (@chrissie2512) March 9, 2017
@theemmabritton @WillowBrookCtr after putting this in the Bradley Stoke mag too!!! https://t.co/TFC34BKKZd
— Lisegirl 👩🏻📸 (@lisegirl1) March 9, 2017
Hi. If u want a follow up story @WillowBrookCtr cutdown all the berry trees so waxwings won't have food next migration.sick!
— Lisegirl 👩🏻📸 (@lisegirl1) March 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/grimjus/status/839928326005407745
that's not true. Rammed with berries and waxwing. Reconsider please . I will get BBC Bristol back about this.
— Lisegirl 👩🏻📸 (@lisegirl1) March 9, 2017
can't have been that poor, they've supported waxwings entire winter! Please reconsider & if help needed you have mine free
— Matt Collis (@MattCollis9) March 9, 2017
please reconsider. I will buy/plant some if u will do decent thing.can't believe u did this after BS article
— Lisegirl 👩🏻📸 (@lisegirl1) March 9, 2017
@Southglosbirds would have been so simple to plant more Rowan Trees. Won't be returning to @WillowBrookCtr again. #Waxwings
— (((Dave))) (@haddicand78) March 9, 2017
Waxwings will survive😘 I only went for them, great centre found, now I'm never going there again.#moneywalks
— Gill (@tiger8lotus) March 9, 2017
‘Don’t Look Back in Anger.’
Waxwing, as the Rowan Trees are torn from their roots @WillowBrookCtr Bradley Stoke pic.twitter.com/D3zpWZlZrC— Bri Thompson (@bri66thomp) March 9, 2017
that's such a bad idea. It's not just the waxwings that benefit – lots of birds rely on berries for winter food
— Penny 🌈 (@digitaldaisies) March 9, 2017
it might be a nice gesture to give out sone free rowan trees to the #BradleyStoke community, esp those who like #waxwings
— Julie Doherty (@juliedoh) March 9, 2017
If they have already been cut could you consider replacing with more rowans? Clearly a huge asset to wildlife.
— Julie Doherty (@juliedoh) March 9, 2017
'Dying' rowan trees wouldn't have a crop this good this year. Why lie @WillowBrookCtr ? https://t.co/ICncnrTPVx
— Amy W. Schwartz 🦇 (@lizardschwartz) March 9, 2017
Nice work @WillowBrookCtr … Not appreciating the lies about the trees dying either. Rowans are some of the hardiest trees there are. https://t.co/qIG8wmq2Fb
— Amy W. Schwartz 🦇 (@lizardschwartz) March 9, 2017
15 Waxwing arrived at @WillowBrookCtr around 7:15 hope this isn't the last time I see these fantastic winter migrants here. @bristolbirding
— Bri Thompson (@bri66thomp) March 9, 2017
So many people enjoyed seeing the Waxwing here. @WillowBrookCtr 😡 https://t.co/sniU3yaTKb
— Wayne + Lauren (@NSLBirding) March 9, 2017
@WillowBrookCtr @tesconews The reason that the Rowans Trees are a better option, not for the people, but for the birds. https://t.co/7axYpyB1Kf
— Bri Thompson (@bri66thomp) March 9, 2017
can't have been that poor, they've supported waxwings entire winter! Please reconsider & if help needed you have mine free
— Matt Collis (@MattCollis9) March 9, 2017
who assessed the trees? Rowan's are the hardiest of trees growing in very poor soil so they would be absolutely fine there
— Matt Collis (@MattCollis9) March 9, 2017
@BBCSpringwatch please retweet to support Bristol Waxwings. Trees removed from the car park that provide berries, replaced with plastic ones https://t.co/4d78iYF90c
— (((Dave))) (@haddicand78) March 8, 2017
@MartinHGames @carolvorders please retweet in support of Bristol Waxwings. Food supply is being replaced with plastic trees @WillowBrookCtr https://t.co/XdwaU9gZxc
— (((Dave))) (@haddicand78) March 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/grimjus/status/839575404742602754
@WillowBrookCtr keep the Rowan Trees. They've proven the soil is good enough by providing berries for many wintering Waxwing @BBCSpringwatch
— (((Dave))) (@haddicand78) March 8, 2017
@WillowBrookCtr Please think, if you support the health, welfare and kudos of the area…celebrate the Waxwings.
It's cool to have them— Gill (@tiger8lotus) March 8, 2017
the trees that actually fruited are left, 11 of them. They've replaced the knackered ones, so far.
— Adam Rawson (@adsrawson) March 8, 2017
@WillowBrookCtr Shabby behaviour to remove the rowans. Spiteful in fact
— Keith Davies (@1Kaith) March 8, 2017
@WillowBrookCtr @Tesco Plant Rowan, not Ornamental Pear, There is bird life that will thrive on the Rowan https://t.co/W6sLnwoGh6
— Bri Thompson (@bri66thomp) March 8, 2017
If you have seen and enjoyed the Bradley Stoke Waxwings over the last couple of months please ask @WillowBrookCtr not to remove the berries!
— Adam Rawson (@adsrawson) March 8, 2017
Strongly recommend a visit, if you love concrete, bargains devoid of nature, a clinical attitude to getting your money @WillowBrookCtr 😏 pic.twitter.com/Fxw4BsKsxE
— Gill (@tiger8lotus) March 8, 2017
@frthbrds @MattCollis9 Well the Rowans have obviously thrived for several years so the soil can't be that bad.
— Allan Chard (@AllanChard) March 8, 2017
Not all the Rowans have been removed yet. Maybe there's still time to save the remaining few.
— Adam Rawson (@adsrawson) March 8, 2017
If you have seen and enjoyed the Bradley Stoke Waxwings over the last couple of months please ask @WillowBrookCtr not to remove the berries!
— Adam Rawson (@adsrawson) March 8, 2017
if the rest are to be replaced tomorrow,please use rowans.The birds are still here. pic.twitter.com/b0V3PrDEcy
— Adam Rawson (@adsrawson) March 8, 2017
@Tesco your blatant disregard towards the natural world, and the Bradley stoke Waxwings & Rowen trees have lost you a customer. Forever. 👎 pic.twitter.com/VFS5jBHDGr
— Lee Gardiner (@Wildwood_photos) March 8, 2017
Why have the Rowan Tree's been cut down…its a disgrace
— Rod Holbrook (@Bigjohnatyeo) March 8, 2017
@TheBSJournal section about the enjoyment people were getting watching waxwing & tesco were happy to see it @WillowBrookCtr
— Vic savery (@severnrover) March 8, 2017
absolutely useless for the waxwing that people enjoyed @ tesco endorsed in the @TheBSJournal this week or last
— Vic savery (@severnrover) March 8, 2017
@MattCollis9 Hi, poor condition, 1/2 removed 2 years ago, replaced with ornamental pear more suited to poor drainage / little root space
— Willow Brook, Bradley Stoke Shopping (@WB_Shopping) March 8, 2017
.@WillowBrookCtr I imagine the revenue you receive from birders & photographers would far outweigh any costs
— Amy W. Schwartz 🦇 (@lizardschwartz) March 8, 2017
.@WillowBrookCtr then would other rowans be able to be replanted along the edge of the car parks where there is more room?
— Amy W. Schwartz 🦇 (@lizardschwartz) March 8, 2017
.@WillowBrookCtr Many do not seem to be dying at all and have produced an incredible berry crop. If some are dying and have to be replaced
— Amy W. Schwartz 🦇 (@lizardschwartz) March 8, 2017
Hi @WillowBrookCtr can you explain why the rowan trees, which have sustained many birds including much beloved waxwings are being removed?!
— Amy W. Schwartz 🦇 (@lizardschwartz) March 8, 2017
@Tesco please can you explain why this is happening at your Bradley Stoke store?! Rowan's brilliant for the birds & enjoyed by many people https://t.co/Y1d2lhflXG
— Matt Collis (@MattCollis9) March 8, 2017
No waxwings at Bradley Stoke this morning and the rowans all being cut down. @Southglosbirds @bristolbirding
— for the birds (@frthbrds) March 8, 2017