Sunday 11 November 2012

RSPB NEWS


RSPB'S Beckingham Marshes wildlife reserve opens

A wetland area the size of 100 football pitches which is designed to attract wildlife has opened to the public.
The Beckingham Marshes reserve in the Trent Valley, on the Nottinghamshire Lincolnshire boarder, has taken three years to complete.
The RSPB said the creation of pools and wet ditches across an area of floodplain grassland over 350,000 sq metres (86 acres) has already attracted lapwing, water voles, owls and hares.
A joint initiative between the RSPB and the Environment Agency has opened a new trail leading from the Old Willow Works in Beckingham. 
Michael Copleston, RSPB Site Manager hopes local visitors using the new short trail from the Old Willow Works building will enjoy the wide landscape views and catch a glimpse of the dragonflies, tree sparrows and lapwings that are settling into the new reserve.
Michael comments: “The hard work is now really beginning to pay off, it’s been fantastic to see new records of curlew, lapwing, water voles, barn owls and brown hares, to name just a few of the species that  Beckingham Marshes are supporting”

RSPB Volunteer, Chris du Feu says:” The reserve is already different with all sorts of species returning. A pair of Curlews seeing off a hunting Buzzard was a sight unimaginable here, even five years ago. The future is bright.”
The new reserve has nearly 100 large wet ponds, 4 km of ditches and 3 windpumps to circulate water around the wetland features. All of the hard work has been generously supported by funders, including Heritage Lottery Fund, WREN, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Biffa Award, whose money has helped create the largest wet grassland creation project for Nottinghamshire.

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/beckinghammarshes

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