It feels like at the moment I am spending all of my time talking and planning and thinking about how to keep visitors staff and volunteers safe as we navigate this brave new world. We do however have some good news for visitors to the reserve.
*Some* hides are open!
Taking advice from our health and safety team at HQ, and with some ingenious problem solving from Dave and the warden team, we have been able to open three of our hides. The new (yet to be named!) Family Hide, Field Pools West and the Bittern Hide. We are continuing to ask our visitors to respect social distancing guidance and maintain a 2m distance where possible.
Along with this change we will be re-introducing an entry fee for non-RSPB members. Many of you will understand that the management of a nature reserve does not happen by accident, and that the skills, expertise and experience of our warden, conservation and ecology teams comes at a cost. As a concession to the reduced facilities that we have available on the reserve at the moment we are offering a 25% discount on the usual entry fee. Payments can be made by card only in order to help keep everyone safe. RSPB members will of course continue to receive free entry to Old Moor as well as all our other RSPB reserves across the country.
Visitors to Old Moor will now also be able to join as an RSPB member at the reserve rather than having to go online. A member of the team will be able to guide you through the process too, so if you’ve been on the fence or have any questions, come along and have a chat with a member of the team.
The Old Moor team are also continuing to work with the teams at HQ and we hope to be able to offer some light refreshments in the next couple of weeks. We know a lot of people have been asking for it, so keep your fingers crossed for us!
Apart from this, we are continuing to watch with excitement as the Bittern and Marsh Harrier raise their families, and the odd interesting sandpiper is keeping us on our toes.
Oh, and a grass snake made it into the office today…
Hope to be seeing you soon!
Lydia
That’s good news. Some interesting looking screens in the hide.