Today is the 19th March and on this date in 2006 we were lucky enough to have a White Stork on the marsh. It should have been a great evening on the reserve but many of us remember it as the evening that Ken Barrett suffered a fatal heart attack whilst attempting to see the bird. Despite our best efforts he could not be saved.
Ken was a integral part of the initial movement to save the marshes long before the RSPB became involved and was a very well respected figure-head in the local birding community and well beyond.
He was my friend and is still sorely missed to this day by all of us. I think Ken would be very proud of what the reserve has become since that time (we were not even open to the public in March 2006...) and would have a quiet chortle at the fact that we named a big metal box in his honour...
As ever out thoughts are with Pat and the family...
(Les Harrison)
(Paul Hawkins)
19-3-13