May 10, 2018 2.55 pm This story is over 70 months old

Brayford babies hatch in river rubbish

“Why do they have to contend with cans and bottles?”

Another baby arrival on the River Witham in Lincoln has pulled at heartstrings, but in more ways than one.

Newly-hatched, tiny moorhen chicks are drawing crowds in the city centre, partly because their home is a stark message of litter’s blight on local waterways.

Their nest sits almost camouflaged amongst a collection of bottles, plastic packaging, balls and shoes.

Onlookers commented on the “sorry sight” as they watched the family tend to its nest next to the Brayford railway bridge.

Is Lincoln fighting a losing battle over litter in the city?

River care groups in the city said the area where rubbish has collected in recent weeks has been flagged as a safety concern before, but that the possibility of disrupting the birds has so far hampered clean up plans.

One reader of The Lincolnite said: “Beautiful moorhen babies on the Brayford but why are they having to contend with empty cans, bottles and take-out boxes?

“Fed up of living in a world where people don’t care for their environment or nature!”

For now, onlookers hope that the family are unaffected by the forest of plastic and glass around them, but the picture is a sad reminder of the importance of keeping the city clean.

Also meet these Canada goslings who arrived on the Brayford this week.