Here's an excerpt from an embargoed RSPB story, via the Press Association, and released today (Tuesday), concerning the plans for flooding Hesketh Out Marsh.
The cunning plan to attract the entire world population of Wigeon to the Ribble in winter proceeds at a pace...
But if there's going to be this much more marsh (which is a good thing), can we PLEASE have bushes and pools in the former Sandplant Compound when the place shuts?????
Excerpt follows:
"Thousands of wintering birds are set to benefit from the creation of a huge wetland along the Ribble estuary in Lancashire.
The RSPB will start work in March to re-flood 170 hectares of farmland at Hesketh Out Marsh, which was reclaimed from the sea 25 years ago.
The result will be a mix of saltmarsh, saline lagoons and muddy creeks, providing a wetland haven for wintering birds such as black-tailed godwits, dunlins, avocets, redshanks and wigeons.
Sea level rises mean the UKâÂÂs saltmarsh is vanishing at the rate of 100 hectares a year.
As well as helping to replace this lost habitat, it is hoped the marsh at Hesketh will also act as a natural flood defence.
The land was bought thanks to funding from the Environment Agency and the Northwest Regional Development Agency through the Lancashire Rural Recovery Action Plan.
It will eventually become one of the RSPBâÂÂs Ribble Estuary nature reserves and part of the proposed Ribble Estuary Regional Park. "
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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John,
I think the RSPB have also put their hands in their (copious) pockets as well, so that there could be more reserve than simply the bit covered by the Environment Agency arrangements.
Glasses should also be raised to the taxpayers of Lancaster City Council.
Some wishes:
1) Call the reserve Hundred End which is what the place was known as when I first started watching the area 46 years ago
2) Put all the footpaths, new or old, public or otherwise, below the sea walls, leading to maybe the odd screened viewing area or hide. Stuff won't remain close while bods stroll along the skyline as is currently the case on the NE Ribble reserve. There is some important breeding habitat on the undisturbed portion of the Out Marsh.
3) The RSPB to acquire and "develop" some of the land, behind the "old" sea wall. This used to be mainly rough grazing pasture with small semi permanent pools. These produced some "goodies" in the sixties like Wilson's Phalarope, Stilt Sand and Buff Breasted Sand (in the same autumn). Plus big Golden Plover flocks.
4) RSPB to (be) discourage(d) car parking close to the new saltmarsh. Limited parking can be provided hopefully fairly adjacent to the main road, meaning that eg like RSPB Elmley watchers have to walk to get at the birds ( Shock/horror, walking! A novelty nowadays in most of SW Lancs despite some "birders" dressing as if for Annapurna)
5) Absolutely no "caff", shop or and snug "Visitors Centre".
Maybe a khazi and a slimmed down version of "Sandgrounders" but that's it.
Ron
ps that RL Buzzard still at the End, but not seen yet by me.
Hmmm, if the Rough Legged Buzzard is still at Hundred End (and what better wintering site is there for one?) I feel a Christmas walk coming on.....
Shame they're usually so hard to pin down, still a challenge is a challenge.
Every time I read about the Hesketh Out Marsh "reserve to be" i get a little more excited. It's only a 10 min cycle ride from my front door! Result!
Me too! - although it's more like a half hour cycle ride for me to get to Hesketh Out Marsh, and over rough terrain, but I like it!!