Evening all
Yesterday (22nd October) saw the start of the work to build the new ground level Purfleet Hide in the bank viewable from the visitors centre. It will look out over a re-landscaped Purfleet Scrape and afford excellent views.
To start with the diggers are removing the top soil. The reedy bit will be kept in one pile and the grassy bit in another to be replaced once works have finished to allow the area to naturally regenerate.
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
Hi Sally,
Think of the positives that these new hides bring to Rainham.
All nature reserves need people to visit them so they can generate more money to buy, save and improve habitat; thus incouraging and saving more wildlife. So building new hides will attract people that may have never been to a nature reserve before and this can only be a good thing.
The more awareness of biodiversity that Rainham can bring to people the more respect people will give to nature and thier surroundings; especially those in built up concrete jungles that may have never experienced a nature reserve in thier lives. Plus hides are important on wetland reserves as you get a better undisturbed view of the birds and wildlife.
The new Butts hide I personally think is ideal for families and people to visit, it has a spacious area and a high up panoramic view of both marshes (this also protects the listed rifle butts underneath). I think the design is leaps ahead of the old fashioned style hide of a cramped space and limited seating; theres been many times were I have had to skip the Ken Barrett hide because there was no room, personally change is good and breaks the mould of old habits and ways.
With the Butts hide its great and also you get to meet people and have a quiet chat; so socially its is a welcoming addition.
For kids its great too and this is important as they are our future to the survival of our natural world and for disabled people there is good access. So everyone can enjoy the views.
As for the new hide it will sit low into the ground and so will blend with its surroundings.
I hope you do give Rainham another go, it has its quiet days like any other reserve in the country and believe me I have had a few of those myself at Rainham!
202 species have been recorded this year and there is never a dull moment with woodland, waders, wildfowl, raptors birds and other wildlife all to be seen in the 870 acres that is RSPB Rainham
Kind regards
Craig
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. - Albert Einstein
I am sorry, but Rainham is not big enough or exciting enough (no disrespect intended) to warrant another enormous, expensive, conspicuous 'hide'. I was disappointed to see the new hide at the western end of the site, it resembled an office block more than a hide & was it really nearly half a million £?
I do hope the Purfleet hide will be in keeping with this low level marsh site, ie low & hidden, & if the RSPB has huge sums of money to spend, please spend it on improving habitat for wildlife & buying more land. The reserve should be about the birds, not us.
Another hide, my favourite reserve is just getting better and better, well done all
Shane
Regards Shane
My Photos in Flickr.
Great news!
Really looking forward to this hide when it is finished.
Another excellent addition to Rainham.