On 11 September 2013, Mike Hellings and Peter Renshaw of the VCF board attended the official opening of the newly relandscaped Middleton Lakes.
Awarded £406,000 in 2011 as part of Valencia Communities Fund's anniversary year, the RSPB has transformed a disused gravel quarry into a haven for aquatic wildlife.
The Board, along with General Manager Lisa Nelson, were joined by a host of other funders, volunteers and contractors. We were given a tour of the first leg of the reserve, leading to a wicker hide that had been designed in Somerset.
From here, we were led to the stunning new bird hide, which was officially unveiled following the speeches, including
one from our own Peter Renshaw.
After lunch, we were led by Nick Martin to see the Konik ponies, who recently arrived from another RSPB reserve, Wicken Fen. They treated us to a quick canter around before retreating to watch us from a distance.
In the coming weeks, the ponies, along with Old English Longhorn cattle, will be given the freedom of the reserve in order to graze, preventing the newly-created pools from becoming choked with vegetation.
With the phrase "build it and they will come" firmly in mind, the new landscape and amenities will attract hosts of wildlife, including the beloved lapwing, and visitors alike.
For more information, visit RSPB's website www.rspb.org.uk (external website, opens in new window)
