Biffa Award brings reeds back to life at RSPB nature reserve

Otter at Leighton Moss - David Mower

The RSPB has been carrying out important nature conservation work at Silverdale Moss, a reedbed in North Lancashire, to make the site an even better place for wildlife.

Reedbed is a rare habitat in the UK, as much of it has been drained for farming and development.

14 years ago, the RSPB began creating Silverdale Moss, an extension to its well-known Leighton Moss nature reserve, to provide homes for special wetland wildlife. By transforming what was once a muddy field into a reedbed, the site is now popular with a range of birds and other animals. 

However, the RSPB’s dream to attract otters and bitterns – a rare type of heron – to the site has not yet been realised.  Both otters and bitterns live on a diet of fish. But the low water table a Silverdale Moss meant that the site wasn’t providing enough fish to entice them in.

Thanks to £48,000 of funding from Biffa Award, though, the RSPB has been able to take steps to rectify the situation.

Jarrod Sneyd, Site Manager at RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay nature reserve explained “This generous funding has allowed us to make improvements on Silverdale Moss so we can better raise and control the water levels there. This will increase the fish available and hopefully encourage bitterns and otters to breed and thrive on the reserve. This work has enhanced the site for other special wildlife, helping to make the nature reserve bigger, better and more connected for nature.”

Gillian French, Biffa Award Programme Manager said “We are pleased to support such an exciting project to rebuild biodiversity in Leighton Moss. We will be following this project with great interest, in the hope of seeing otters and bitterns in this beautiful corner of Lancashire.”

Peter Bagnall

Blackpool has secured a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of almost £330,000 to undertake one of the biggest green space projects the town has seen in many years.

Marton Mere

Blackpool Council, The Conservation Volunteers, Blackpool Environmental Action Team (BEAT) Nature Watch group and Bourne Leisure are teaming up to develop a new visitor centre, build new and renovate existing bird hides and carry out a whole host of environmental improvements at Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve.

Marton Mere is the only designated Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the town and is nationally recognised for its bird populations.

It also supports a number of other regionally important species such as otters, dragonflies, butterflies and orchids.

The funding will help safeguard the variety and quality of site’s ecosystems and biodiversity and make the reserve more accessible.

A project manager will also be allocated to the reserve to oversee the works and encourage the local community to get involved as well as develop volunteer and education programmes.

The three year project is set to begin in January 2014 and volunteers are now being urged to get involved.

Cllr Graham Cain, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism, said: “Securing this funding will help to safeguard, protect and improve Marton Mere for decades to come.

“As well as providing an important habitat for wildlife including rare species, it is also an extremely positive educational and ecological resource for Blackpool.”

Kath Godfrey, from The Conservation Volunteers, said: “People often don’t realise there is an incredible eco-system and wildlife habitat right here on the doorstep in Blackpool.

“What we want to do now we’ve secured the funding is work together with the local community, including everyone from schools to community groups, to help improve it.

“We’ll be reaching out to local groups to ask for their input and I hope lots of people will want to get involved in this very exciting project.”

And Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, added:  “Today’s HLF support will help protect and enhance the wealth of natural heritage, including many rare species, at Marton Mere.

“As the largest green space in Blackpool, this project will not only help boost the area’s biodiversity but by developing the site as an educational resource, local people and visitors will have a fantastic range of opportunities to get involved and take care of this important landscape for many years to come.”

As well as the new visitor centre – which Bourne Leisure have agreed to be sited on the fringe of the Marton Mere Holiday Village site – and improvements to the hides, there will also be a whole host of other work taking place.

Entrances will be upgraded and made more welcoming and the footpath network will be refurbished to create safe and secure access for visitors and enable wheelchair access.

A significant amount of specialist reed, scrub and grassland habitat management work will take place as well as the creation of special feeding and nesting habitats for waders and skylarks.

Vegetation clearance and pond works will also take place, helping to restore former orchid habitats and create better conditions for amphibians to flourish.

A comprehensive range of new education and training programmes as well as an interesting programme of events, will also be funded from the grant.

For more information on how you can get involved, email Lisa Foden, Stanley Park & Parks Development Manager atlisa.foden@blackpool.gov.uk/ tel: 01253 477477 or Kath Godfrey, Area Manager at k.godfrey@tcv.org.uk/ tel: 07764 655711.