Lifeline for Lapwings Project

The Lifeline for Lapwings project has now reached the exciting stage! After lengthy ground surveys, design and modelling and having received permission from the Environment Agency to complete the works we are now ready to go. Landscape engineers Miles Waterscapes have been awarded the contract and hope to be arriving on site this week. They will be dewatering some of the pools in order to complete the fine details at the final waters edge and using excavators, bulldozers and dumpers will be re-working the central grassland areas to create a large mosaic of wetland features including spits, islands and scrapes. All will include shallow margins and profiles that allow wading birds to reach prime feeding opportunities whatever the water levels. Whilst the whole area will be excellent feeding and nesting habitat, the main features for attracting passage and feeding species will be two large sluice controlled scrapes in the project areas southern corners.

 To improve the new habitats further the area will be grazed so stock fencing will be installed during the winter. The area will be seeded with a flower grass mix to encourage swift re-vegetation. This will benefit the birds using the area in the spring, discourage dock and will ready the area for grazing sooner. Our longhorns and new Konik ponies will graze throughout the grassland and keep areas open from encroaching scrub whilst adding diversity to the grass and soil structure.

 To compliment the project we will also be completing some new visitor infrastructure. Two new footbridges and two viewing screens will allow access and close views over the two scrapes and a new trail will create a circular route. All should be completed by the spring but we will provide updates through the winter.

 I have only got topographical plans currently so it is difficult to show the project graphically however I hope to be able to circulate some images soon which should help you all envisage the final design. In the mean time though I hope you will get the chance to get onto the reserve and see the machines in action, it will be a real mess in the short term but I am certain that the end result will be fantastic for wildlife and people.

This project has received £406k funding from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, through the landfill communities fund.

I am sure that there will be plenty of questions about the above so please do ask me and if there are any other, comments, queries or complaints about anything else I want to hear those to. Mail me direct at nick.martin@rspb.org.uk and I will try to answer as soon as possible.

 As always thank you to everyone for all your support and hard work this last month,

 See you soon,

 Nick

 Nick Martin

Senior Site Manager

RSPB Sandwell Valley and Middleton Lakes

01827 259454