As you may know, we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. We're taking the opportunity to look back at the history of Leighton Moss, both before it became an RSPB nature reserve in 1964, and since. Each week, I am doing a 'Tweet of the Week', bringing a little snippet or story from a point in our past. If you don't already follow us on Twitter, we're @Leighton_moss.
This week we have had a few questions about the Public hide - why it is called Public hide and what that means for its access.
The wider path that runs up the middle of the reserve that we refer to as the causeway, is a public bridleway, and therefor a right of way to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Dogs are welcome on that part of the site too, as long as they are on a lead. If you walk straight down the causeway and keep going, you will pass Grisedale Farm and eventually end up at Leighton Hall. The causeway was originally built to allow the family at Leighton Hall a more direct route to the train station, without having to go all the way round through Yealand.
When John Wilson became the first Warden of Leighton Moss, on 15 May, 1964, one of his many tasks was to decide what visitor infrastructure to put in and where. He built a hide on the site of what is now Public hide in the first year. Money was very tight, so the hide was built for the cost of the nails. All of the wood was salvaged and donated.
As you can see, it was much smaller than the current Public hide! You can spot the Dutch Barn at Grisedale Farm in the background.
Public hide is so named because it is on a public right of way. As such, there is no charge for non-members to walk on the causeway, or to use the current Public hide, which is located roughly half way along the track. However, thanks to the support of RSPB members, we have the hide itself and the stunning view and wonderfulwildlife that it looks out onto. If you enjoy walking the causeway and stopping into the hide to enjoy the sights it offers, please do consider becoming a member, to allow us to continue to run this beautiful reserve, over 200 others around the UK and the wide variety of off-reserve work we do, to help give nature a home.