What's going on at Fairhaven Lake?

The RSPB pagoda building is on the right and Isaac Dixon boathouse on the left, with the cafe just out of shot to the left of the image. 

Did you know, Fairhaven Lake has a unique history and is the third largest marine lake in the country?

Thanks to Fylde Council and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are a partner in a major project to restore and maintain the historical and natural heritage of Fairhaven Lake, and it is really starting to come into fruition.

There are 4 key elements to this:

1) The buildings - these are all being restored to their original features. 

• The café is the oldest building on the lake and used to be the golf clubhouse to the golf course that this site was originally designed as.
• The Isaac Dixon boathouse will become a new water-sports centre and will have a large and ample educational facilities for our RSPB school sessions and dual delivery sessions with Fylde council.  There will be a purpose built classroom and new toilet and changing area facilities for visiting school groups.
• The pagoda building which is our RSPB visitor centre will become a bigger and more interactive visitor centre as well as a much larger and better stocked RSPB shop.

The RSPB Ribble Discovery Centre in the pagoda building is closed while the re-vamp takes place.

2) Fairhaven Lake itself

The lake will also have a revamp with water quality improvement measures to be carried out later next year, an improved sluice gate (water control system) has already helped somewhat.  There are also plans to create a much more natural edge to the lake, to attract further wildlife and trials of this will also take place.

3) Landscaping

Mawson’s Japanese garden is to be reinstated as part of the historical and natural heritage of the site and new planting here will attract invertebrates and subsequently many small birds, amphibians and mammals.

Restoration work on the Lake

The new path around the lakeside makes the lake accessible to all, without exclusion, and as this was an area where it was noted that many birds roosted, plans include the provision of a larger and much safer roosting area that will allow much less disturbance by human activity.

Activity and education

The final key element is that the education offer will be expanded, with us at the RSPB focusing on the natural heritage of the lake site and the national significance of the wildlife and habitats of the Ribble Estuary. Other providers will offer watersports activities.

The project is great news for wildlife and people and we look forward to seeing you all next spring when we will be getting ready for the re-launch. Keep an eye on this blog and our Facebook and Twitter for updates and news from the RSPB across the Ribble Estuary.

Jo 

All photos taken by Jo Taylor