A recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI in Doncaster has sparked concerns over the safety of Sheffield’s parks, both for wildlife and visitors.
Following on from the lifting of the mandatory housing order in place for poultry on the 18th April, there have been two major suspected incidents of HPAI in the Yorkshire area.
A suspected incident was reported at North Cave Wetlands in East Yorkshire on the 27th April, and an outbreak was confirmed in Cantley, Doncaster on the 29th April, leading to a two mile protection zone and six mile surveillance zone coming into effect.
Eve Street, 20, a Tesco worker and student at Sheffield Hallam University, has been left concerned for the safety of local wildlife.
She said: “I probably go to the park once a week in the winter time, but maybe twice a week when it’s warmer.
“Wildlife is 110% the reason I go, I’m not really interested in parks that don’t have ducks, or geese, or things you can feed.”
As recently as last year, Sheffield’s Weston Park was affected by a bird flu outbreak.
Street said: “The only place I knew about [the outbreaks] was Weston Park because there was a sign at the entrance of Weston Park on the notice board that said ‘Please don’t feed the ducks’.
“This must’ve been a while ago, February time, maybe longer, but I only noticed that after I’d fed the ducks.”
“I didn’t see the sign because it was in a notice board that nobody really looks at, if it was near to where the ducks are and more obvious I wouldn’t have fed the ducks.”
The UK’s previous HPAI incident led to the culling of nearly four million birds, and since 1st October 2022 there have been 182 confirmed cases in humans.
Street said: “Weston Park is right near the children’s hospital and I’ve seen poorly children feeding the ducks, it would make me very sad knowing that somebody who might have a condition that weakens their immune system could get sick.”
Street continued: “Animals need welfare checks, I don’t know if they do, but it makes me sad thinking that they don’t.
“Make sure they get checked, because if they get bird flu they have to kill them and that’s awful.
“I probably won’t go to the park as much now, I forgot it existed and I didn’t realise there were more recent outbreaks.”
The UK Health Security Agency say that the risk to public health from HPAI is low, as it primarily affects birds, and the Food Standards Agency advise that properly cooked poultry products are safe.
If you suspect an outbreak in a park in Sheffield, call the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust on 01142634335.