We were recently the beneficiary of funding supplied within the Birmingham & Black Country Nature Improvement Area project. Visitors to our reserve will notice straight away the work achieved in a little under 2 weeks. Our reserve has been given a new lease of life and general opinion is that a good job has been done.
Most noticeable is the work carried out on landscaping the existing island in Forge Mill Lake. The island has been re-profiled and enhanced by reducing some of the height of the island and re-distributing it to create extra spits, bays and small islands. From what was a large and unimaginative island, the extra features will make the island batter for wading birds like lapwing, little ringed plover and oystercatcher. The islands will provide places for lots of other exciting wildlife to feed and rest.
The digger has done has also been transforming parts of the marsh pool and reedbed into something resembling a mangrove at the moment but will develop into an even better place for wildlife. The reedbed should now thrive and provide a safer nest site for reed warblers, water rail and other reedbed wildlife.
As one visitor said,"Its like visiting a new reserve."
See you on the reserves,
Best regards,
Chris Edwards