The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) supports RSPB conservation projects across England. Ahead of National Lottery Open Week (18-26 March), Letty Porter shines a spotlight on how the money raised through the National Lottery is benefitting both nature and people in England, as well as some of the special offers at participating RSPB nature reserves throughout the week.
Restoring buzzing heathlands in Dorset
Thanks to generous supporters and a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), the RSPB acquired Hyde’s Heath at Arne, Dorset, in 2019. Visitors can now experience an area of restored heathland that is vital habitat for some of our rarest wildlife including Woodlarks, Nightjars and Sand Lizards, along with amazing views of the Arne peninsula, Poole Harbour and across Purbeck.
Heathlands at RSPB Arne. Credit: Ben Hall
Telling the stories of Yorkshire’s Heritage Coast
The Seabird Centre at Bempton Cliffs offers some of the most stunning coastal views anywhere. Since opening the enhanced visitor centre in April 2015, we have had a phenomenal response from visitors – with positive reviews making us one of the Top Ten visitor rated natural outdoor attractions in the UK. The additional indoor space means we can tell the rich cultural stories associated with this stretch of Yorkshire’s Heritage Coast, including it being the birthplace of seabird protection.
Enjoying coastal views at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Credit: Mark Smales
Supporting more people to connect with nature in the midlands
At Sandwell Valley in the midlands, NLHF funding has also reinvigorated the site with a redesigned centre. One local resident said; “They’ve got this place right, it’s a beautiful place for residents to enjoy.” Volunteers at the reserve have also noticed wide ranging benefits for people as well as nature, boosting wellbeing and attracting more people to develop their confidence in the outdoors.
Pond dipping at RSPB Sandwell Valley. Credit: Aaron Richards
New views of the wild in Lancashire
The visitor experience at Leighton Moss has been enhanced with funding from the NLHF which has helped to create a peaceful sensory garden, a Skytower with views stretching across the largest reedbed in North West England, and a fully accessible boardwalk so that all visitors can get closer to nature.
View from the Skytower at RSPB Leighton Moss. Credit: Alan Coe
Boosting health and wellbeing in West Yorkshire
St Aidan’s, near Leeds, was one of several RSPB nature reserves to benefit from the NLHF’s Heritage Emergency Fund during the pandemic, which enabled us to keep the site open for local people to take their daily exercise through lockdown in support of their health and wellbeing.
Reedbeds at St Aidans. Credit: Mac Wontorowski
Our nature restoration projects and improvements to our visitor facilities shows that every penny counts.
The full list of RSPB sites taking part in National Lottery Open Week are (follow the links for more details of the offers and how to claim them):
RSPB Arne
RSPB Bempton Cliffs
RSPB Blacktoft Sands
RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands
RSPB Dove Stone
RSPB Dungeness
RSPB Fairburn Ings
RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden
RSPB Frampton Marsh
RSPB Ham Wall
RSPB Lakenheath Fen
RSPB Leighton Moss
RSPB Middleton Lakes
RSPB Old Moor
RSPB Pagham Harbour
RSPB Pulborough Brooks
RSPB Rye Meads
RSPB Saltholme
RSPB Sandwell Valley
RSPB St Aidan’s
RSPB Strumpshaw Fen
RSPB Titchwell Marsh
RSPB The Lodge
RSPB Cameron’s Cottage
To find out more about other RSPB reserves near you visit this link: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/