Despite some very slight changes in lockdown restrictions in England, our Ribble Estuary sites, including Marshside, Hesketh Out Marsh and Ribble Discovery Centre remain closed to the public for now. Our priority is to ensure that we only re-open when we have everything in place to keep our members, visitors, volunteers and employees safe.
We must also make sure that the wildlife that calls our sites home is ready to receive attention after a couple of months completely on its own. You'll have seen reports from round the UK of birds nesting on and near normally busy paths (as well as some weird and wonderful places), so it's going to take us some time to check and make sure they are safe too.
We ask that you bear with us in these difficult times and check our Ribble reserves websites, Facebook and Twitter regularly for the latest information, as well as the RSPB Covid-19 updates here.
If you are exercising on public paths around the Ribble Estuary sites, as well as abiding by social distancing measures, we urge you to be alert for nature and please be extra careful around it - especially on beaches (where birds such as plovers nest), paths (where plants have emerged, and birds may have nested) and open landscapes such as saltmarsh (ground nesting birds and other wildlife can easily be disturbed by people and dogs off leads).
Thank you. We look forward to being able to welcome you back when it can be done safely and responsibly for all people and wildlife concerned.
Marshside by Dave Morris