December's flood and the winter gales have caused damage which we are continuing to fix.
Last year we floated three rafts on the water at Cowpen to serve as islands for the Common Terns to nest on, but the anchors were damaged over winter and the rafts came to rest on the bank.
Today we waded out to fix new anchors - concrete - which we tied to the existing anchor chains.
Ian took the photo from the bank with one of the rafts in the foreground, and me, Ed and Brian getting the concrete blocks tied to the other raft placed well away from the bank with its terrestrial predators. The covering of cockle shell can be seen - the perfect nest site. These rafts were successful last year and hopefully the terns will come again in greater numbers this year.
If you don't know Saltholme this is just north of the main reserve, on the A178 and just before the car park (and the temporary traffic lights) for the Seal haul-out hide on Greatham Creek.
Peter