Remember this when you had to apply for a permit for a large number of RSPB reserves.

• This blog on the RSPB Community Forum in 2014 the year that Leighton Moss was celebrating a big anniversary. But up to around 1981 large numbers of RSPB reserves where only open a few days a week with very limited hours and having to apply for a permit with a limited number of visitors allowed even for reserves where no permits where needed such as the Inch Marshes that was only open 3 days a week. This blog from 2014 shows how different it was for visiting large number of RSPB reserves and visits only for part of the year as well and  and large number of RSPB reserves where closed during the Autumn/Winter period(not all RSPB reserves). Even RSPB members had to pay an admission charge for some RSPB reserves in advance such as admission to Minsmere which was about half the price that non-members had to pay. Leighton Moss was free for members. The change happened around 1981 with a few words in the old RSPB Birds magazine of old saying that the council of the RSPB had decided that all or most RSPB reserves  would be open 7 days a week and all year with opening for large numbers of RSPB reserveren open from dawn to dusk. Also up to the early 1980’s there was no RSPB Shops or cafe’s at any RSPB reserves. There was also no toilets at any RSPB reserve. Not even at reserves such as Minsmere or Leighton Moss. Leighton Moss was the first  RSPB reserves to have a visitor centre including cafe and shop including toilets in the early 1980’s.  Link below from 2014. Other oldies on this Community forum will remember this as well. Some who where members before myself as well. My visit to Minsmere around 1973 I had to apply for a permit by the latest 6 months before my planned visit on a set day and date between April-September Saturday, Sunday. Wednesday or Thursday from 11.00am. -5.00pm You had to que at a small hut to have your permit checked and stamped by one of the wardens at a small hut.  In some if the hides volunteer wardens checked everyone’s permit to show that anyone visiting Minsmere had the applicable permit to visit on that day and date and one of the 4  set days for visiting Minsmere every year, Minsmere was open only for 4 days a week  from April-September every year. Open only from 11.00am-5.00pm. Member had to pay in advance for there permit again RSPB members had to pay for there permit as well which was half of what non members had to pay for there permit. Completely different up to 1981 when having to apply for a permit  to a large number of RSPB reserves for a permit at the latest of 6 months in advance of anyone’s visit. That ended and changed for the better for both members and non-members at a large numbers of RSPB reserves in 1981..

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