Is Cowpen Marsh actually part of the Saltholme RSPB nature reserve?
Regards,
Ian.
It depends how you define part. We have a management lease on the Marsh which means we have a plan that we implement on behalf of the landowners. We don't own it and there is no public access to it but we do carry out surveys on the land, control water levels and manage the stocking density and timings.
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder
Cheers Toby, that's right. Cowpen Marsh is owned by a company called Ineos Chlor who hold the rights to the land area (about 90ha). RSPB entered a 10-year management agreement with Ineos Chlor in January 2011. The management agreement was specifically to allow RSPB to undertake civil engineering works to re-wet the marsh and to manage it for wildlife. This management includes the use of grazing livestock. All other rights to the land are reserved by the landowner and access to the marsh is restricted by these rights, so we manage the land yes, but access is controlled by the landowner. Hope this makes sense!