Staff and volunteers have been working hard to get the islands in front of the visitor centre (sandgrounders hide) in tip top condition before the start of this years breeding season.
Early on in the winter the islands were strimmed and cleared of last years vegetation. We have now finished them all off with a new fresh layer of cockle shells. The main island directly in front of the centre has also been backbreakingly re-landscaped. we have taken height off the middle of the island and added the material around the outside, adding a couple of splits and bays. By reducing the height of the island we are hoping that the winter flooding each year will now have more chance to drown out any persistent weeds.
Luckily we seem to have finished just in time with the first Avocets arriving back as we were adding the final shells. There are seven Avocets on rainford's lagoon today with more hopefully on their way over the next few weeks. Fingers crossed for a slightly drier summer with less cold and rain at the crucial hatching time for all our waders.
Before (above)
After (below)
Good work all. Fingers crossed for a successful breeding season.
" 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky"