On 13 July MEP Richard Howitt visited Rye Meads, along with Sacha Cleminson Head of the RSPB's International Biodiversity Policy Unit!
Keith Bedford (one of our Lead Volunteers) and Vicky Buckel (Assistant Site Manager at Rye Meads) took Richard and Sacha around the reserve to look at our fabulous reedbeds.
Keith (Lead volunteer) and MEP Richard Howitt
The RSPB has been working hard to save the rare bittern. All around the UK a lot of work has gone into improving and creating new habitats to hoepfully increase the birds population.
Mr Howitt said "Back in 1995 the Eurasian bittern was close to the dissapearing from the UK.
"Work here at Rye Meads was part of a concerted effort to re-create the habitat for the birds.
"The role that the reserve has played in saving the endangered bittern is great.
"There are talks going on in Brussels now for the next phase of the funding and I'm supproting the RSPB's bid to increase the proportion of European funds that support conservation.
"The budget is relatively small, but it's impact for our local environment is huge."
From Benny Hill:
The lad said, "I see politicians on TV every night,
Some say this, some say that, they can't all be right,
Some say this is so, some say the opposite applies,
Now how is it, we'd like to know, which one is telling lies?"
His dad said, 'There's one sure method, Way beyond improvin',
Watch their faces and you'll see,
The one who's telling lies is the one whose lips are movin'.
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