After weeks of anticipation, the groundwork started this week on preparing the site for the installation of our new, prefabricated modular cafe. Contractors arrived on Monday, and the main tasks so far have been setting up their fenced compound to keep everybody safe, and building a new vehicle access track for occasional use by the wardens to access the wetlands, replacing the route lost due to the cafe's situation.
The contractor's compound in the car park (D.Trotman)
As we have previously mentioned, there will be the need to close the reserve for occasional days to allow for potentially hazardous tasks to be completed safely and efficiently, without dozens of vehicles and visitors to keep safe or risk disrupting their visit. The first closure is on Monday 24 October, when the new waste-water tank is being delivered and a large hole close to the visitor path being excavated to accommodate it.
Rolling the new access track (D. Trotman)
There will be no public access to Burton Mere Wetlands on that day, but if you're still keen to get out for a walk and birdwatching, why not try a different part of the estuary such as Parkgate, Burton Marsh or even the Welsh shore up to Point of Ayr, which will benefit from a reasonably high tide of 9.1 metres just after 11am. Or venture further afield to one another of our fantastic reserves in the region like Marshside, Leighton Moss or Conwy.
Your patience and understanding over the closure is appreciated, and we'll be back open as normal on Tuesday 25 October, for the rest of half-term week with our Big Wild Halloween activity for families, and some brilliant winter birds to enjoy including redwings and fieldfares arriving in their thousands yesterday, gorgeous golden plovers retreating to the coast and ever-present marsh harriers stirring things up for regular aerial acrobatics of ducks and waders.
Golden plover from Border hide on Wednesday (Chris Wilding)
We've had a busy autumn so far, and hope that the cafe building work won't put you off visiting as we head into the season of rusty-coloured trees, flocks of whirling waders, starlings and sunsets. When you do visit, please take extra care on arrival and departure and be aware of construction or delivery vehicles. Hope to see you soon!