After a number of weeks of closure, following the severe winter floods, we're going to be re-opening the reserve on 15th March!! Please be aware though, this won't be at the crack of dawn and in all likelihood will be around lunchtime. The stay local message will still be in effect throughout March, but once we get into April we're expecting record numbers of visitors back on site again, experiencing the ever-changing wildlife spectacles that Langford has to offer.
Water levels are now back to normal for this time of year, with our massive Outfall Sluice performing wonderfully. As the Trent dropped, so water flowed out of the reserve at a rate of about half a tonne per second, which is quite lot!
In terms of talking about the reserve, you'll have noticed we've been keeping things lowkey during the flooding and lockdown period, but spring has definitely sprung and I'm excited that we'll soon be opening the gates, allowing you to once again immerse yourselves in the sights, sounds and indeed smells (if the wind is in the right direction from the sugar factory!) of Langford. We had a big litter pick last week (so many plastic bottles!) and also cleared the thick layer of dead vegetation that had been dropped on the trails, this combined with the recent dryish weather, has meant that the lower-lying sections of the trail are now drying out nicely. If all goes to plan the Floating Bridge will be repaired and reattached this Friday, so everything will be ready for opening on the afternoon of the 15th. Thank you for your patience and please continue resisting the temptation to climb over the stiles or locked gates onto the reserve, the gate by the Beach Hut has been damaged and we want to keep feet off the trails whist they dry and the grass attempts to grow back.
We'll see you soon!
Cowslips are just now coming into bloom on the reserve and can also be seen growing alongside sections of the public footpath. They don't like being flooded though and if last year is anything to go by, there was a clear difference in the number of cowslips above and below the flooding high tide line.