I spent an enjoyable day at our Leighton Moss nature reserve in north Lancashire. It’s a place I know well it’s over thirty years since I first visited this special corner of the world – on a coach trip organised by the Leeds RSPB local group. I was there to host a roadshow for colleagues on our new campaign, Stepping Up for Nature, but I did get the chance for a pre-breakfast walk around the reserve.
Step on to the reserve and there’s wildlife everywhere- a blackcap just tuning up in a hawthorn by the path, two red deer framed in a gap in the reeds, querulous black-headed gulls posturing and pairing in a small nesting colony in front of the hide.
I could only spend a little time in Lillian’s Hide before dragging myself away – I was supposed to be working after all! But just a short time amongst the reeds and watery landscape of Leighton Moss refreshed the spirits and reminded me of the wealth of life that lurks in reedbeds. And by spooky coincidence – we’ve just put out this story reporting on a recent programme funded by Natural England called Bringing Reedbeds to Life – and here’s where you can read more.
Here's one of Mike Langman's panels in the education room at Leighton Moss that captures the richness of the reeds
We’re sometimes moaned at for going on too much about birds (can’t imagine why!) – but our nature reserves are home to over 13,000 species – so birds are really a minority shareholder in our wild estate. Bringing Reedbeds to Life really highlights the role reedbeds play for water voles and moths such as the rare small dotted footman. BirdsPlus – I would say.
If you get the chance – do plan a visit to one later in the spring.
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Thanks Gill - Mike Langman used to work for the RSPB and is an excellent artist. This is one of the panels he produced when the visitor centre was updated a decade or so ago. Leighton Moss is well worth a visit and is but one of the great sites in that corner of the NW inc the Forest of Bowland and Morecambe Bay.