Ashton Moss Nature Reserve volunteers urge public to 'save our swans'

Volunteers at Ashton Moss Nature Reserve have been appealing to Tameside Council for swan signs to be placed along Lord Sheldon Way.

The group has expressed its concern for the swans and their signets ‘walking all over the road and tram tracks’.

John Worrall, one of the volunteers, said: “The swans and signets keep going along the main road. We can’t stop them - we just want to keep them safe.

“The only thing I can think of is that none of the public use the other side of Lord Sheldon Way where there is an area of water, so there’s more food there.

“At night, you have cars racing up and down there doing 60/70mph. It’s a speed track really, you’ll see these Golfs and BMWs - high performance cars - racing one another.

“It’s just not safe at all for the animals. The signs would act as a reminder to the road users to take care and not be so reckless.”

Allan Stamper, an ex-policeman who now volunteers at the nature reserve, added: “We just need something to make people aware, that’s all we want to do.

“We’ve been chased off with knives before now and had the police out here numerous times, people threaten us with all sorts. It’s a fight we’ve had time and time again, and we just carry on going. The more aggro we get, the more passionate we get.”

Both of the men have been working on the nature reserve for five years and described it as initially being a ‘dumping ground’.

“We had a lot of people taking drugs and camping out along the sides of the water,” Allan said.

“It’s a beautiful spot and we have those few people who are just ruining it for us. It had just become a complete waste.”

The pair said that there were also many instances of illegal fishing, with people cutting down trees to make fires on which to cook the fish they had caught.

They have already spent over £1,000 in signs for various warnings, with two of the signs in five different languages.

The group say the council has now agreed to place a warning sign for ducks along the route, with no design existing for swans.

They thanked MP Andrew Gwynne for his support in bringing the issue to a satisfactory conclusion.

The volunteer group added: “It also helps to know that Andrew has been very supportive in his comments, relating to our achievements at Ashton Moss Nature Reserve.”