9 April 2009

NEW SERVICE STATION OPENS FOR LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE

On Friday 17 April, the Mayor of Boston will formally open the new visitor centre at the official launch of the RSPB’s Frampton Marsh Nature Reserve in Lincolnshire.

The Mayoress is accompanying the Mayor and will present prizes to local school children also attending. Winners of the competition to name the three new bird watching hides on the new nature reserve will receive a pair of binoculars, kindly donated by Viking Optics.
When established, the reserve will become one of the most diverse and accessible in the region, popular with birds, birdwatchers, families and day-trippers alike.

For the past two years, the RSPB has embarked on an ambitious development on its Frampton Marsh nature reserve. During this period, the team at the reserve have created a variety of new freshwater habitats for wildlife and these will provide a much needed refuelling stop for many of nature’s greatest migrants. Staff at the reserve are now in the final stages of installing top quality visitor facilities.

The new facilities include a heated, glass-fronted visitor centre with spectacular views, refreshments and toilets. The design of the visitor centre has been completely managed by a local environmental and renewables consultant. It will be powered by 100% sustainable energy provided by a wind turbine. The whole project has cost around £1.6 million.

Simon Wilson, the Visitor and Publicity Officer for the reserve said, “The developing reed bed, wet grassland and saltmarsh have already become a major local spectacle!
“Once the habitats have had more time to establish, we envisage Frampton Marsh becoming one of Eastern England’s major bird watching attractions. It’s really exciting, we would love to see as many people visiting the site as possible – we’ve got so much to show them.”

The three, newly named bird watching hides have been put up providing wonderful opportunities to see all manor of wildlife attracted by the freshwater scrapes and reed beds. Linking the hides and visitor centre are over 3km of new footpaths, all professionally installed and accessible by wheelchair.

Simon went on to say, “You don’t need to be bird expert to visit the reserve. With so much going on here, there is something for everyone.”

The event on the 17 April starts at 2pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and staff and volunteers will be on hand to show off all the wonders of the reserve. Complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the afternoon.

The RSPB wishes to thank the following organisations for their contribution towards the development of the reserve at Frampton Marsh: Biffaward – investing in the environment; East Midlands Development Agency; The Environment Agency; National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund; Natural England; the Sita Trust and Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN) which distributes landfill tax credits for Waste Recycling Group Ltd (WRG).