We are thrilled and delighted that today, we have opened our brand new elevated viewing platform known as the ‘Skytower’.
The Skytower (David Mower)
The 9 metre high tower,was officially opened today in a ceremony at 2 pm. Attending the opening were local councillors, partners, press and the Skytower's funders: the Heritage Lottery Fund and Lancashire Environmental Fund.
Sophie from funders Heritage Lottery Fund cuts the ribbon (Kevin Kelly)
The Skytower is a first for the RSPB and offers our visitors the opportunity to see right across the reedbed to the surrounding Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and out over picturesque Morecambe Bay.
As the largest reedbed in North West England, Leighton Moss is home to a fantastic variety of wildlife, including rare reedbed birds and playful otters. Throughout the year, our visitors enjoy wandering through tall reeds and witnessing wildlife spectacles from the many hides, but thanks to the Skytower, you can now also experience the reserve from a completely different angle – 9 metres up in the air – and hopefully spot some of the reedbed residents much more easily. It has been a dream of ours for a while to be able to offer an elevated lookout point for our visitors and thanks to our funders, this has become reality.
View from the top over Lilian's pool towards Lower hide (David Mower)
The Skytower will not only provide a heightened spectacle for visitors, but it will also be easier for our staff and volunteers to monitor the nests of some of the reserve’s most iconic birds. From the top of the tower, rare reedbed birds, such as bitterns and marsh harriers, will be easier to spot going into and out of their nest sites, making it more straightforward to find out if breeding has taken place and how many nests we have. This is vital when it comes to making the reedbed the best possible home for them.
Huge thanks to all who attended the ceremony, it was great to see so many partners, funders and stakeholders together, especially as you brought the sunshine. And of course there was cake!
Skytower cake (Annabel Rushton)
Andy and Anne from funders Lancashire Environmental Fund cut the cake (Annabel Rushton)
We are all very excited about the opening of the Skytower as the views really are incredible - a great white egret, marsh harriers, red deer and lots of other wildlife have already been spotted from the top this morning. Come and see it soon!