We are very pleased to let you know that after a break (due to the previous supplier going into administration), Lyndsay's Bakery of Potton are supplying The Lodge shop with locally produced fresh sandwiches, rolls, wraps, salads & cake!

The new service starts on Wednesday 17 October, so you will be able to buy your lunch and snacks again from then onwards.

So come in soon and and enjoy an autumnal walk, with…

On a perfect day- more like mid-summer than autumn, I took a walk across the new heath yesterday to take a look at how the re-profiling work on the slopes is going on. The banks have certainly changed appearance over the last few weeks and are looking really good.The contractors are busy transporting the soil to create the invertebrate and viewing mounds on the heath and the major work should be completed by the end of next…

All of the elements came together perfectly for our Discovery Day at The Lodge on Sunday. Bright sunshine, great birds in the ringing demo and crowds of visitors enjoying the event and having a walk in the early autumn around the reserve.

The  recent north- easterly winds have kick-started the migration season, and two bramblings and a redwing were recorded in the ringing session. Siskins were in the birch tops around…

Good news, Anglia Water have restored the water supply, the toilets and coffee machine back and working again!

The Lodge Wed 3 October

We are every sorry, but due to a burst water main in nearby Potton, we currently have no water to the reserve.
Anglian Water inform us that they hope to resolve the problem by mid-afternoon.
We apologise that the public toilets and shop coffee machine are affected by this issue

As we head into October we are still getting daily sightings of hobby and spotted flycatchers. The spotted flycatcher in the images was on a dead pine near the den building area yesterday.and captured by Ray Piercy. Ray also took the image of the kestrel on the new heath.

Several butterflies were on the wing in the glorious sunshine, with brimstones and smal coppers seen by many visitors (and me!)

It's looking to be…

Works along the boundary wall and slopes are really taking shape, as you will have noticed if you've driven along the B1042 from Sandy to Potton recently! All of the bricks from the delapidated wall have been removed and the soil is now being moved onto the edge of the new heath to create invertebrate and a viewing mound, to give panoramic views over the heathland.

A spotted flycatcher was around for most of the…

A gentle reminder that The Lodge shop will be closed from 3 pm on Wednesday 26th September for stock take.
Apologies for any inconvenience this will cause, the shop will re-open as usual at 9 am on Thursday.
Hopefully some good news to report on a new local food supplier to come soon - it will be great to see the full chiller again!

Gatehouse shop image credit Mark Brandon

Coming soon...

The Lodge Discovery Day
Sunday 7 October 10.30 am – 3.00 pm
An event full of fun and discovery, held on the Gatehouse lawn.
• Bird ringing demonstrations throughout the event
• Owl pellet dissection
• Get nice and messy making bird cake
• Visit the RSPB Bedford local group stand.
• Local nature information at the Bedford Natural History Society marquee
• Stock up on bird food, feeders…

It's nice to have a day without the strong winds, although I've just returned from a walk to the gardens and the rain is now coming down. Still, the hide pools are in need of a really good top up, so this will help.

 We had a couple of trees down yesterday, one across the bridleway that was quickly cut up and moved. The wind may have been the reason the hobbies seem to have moved on, with the last sighting we…

With the boundary wall work continuing, here are a some answers to a few queries we've received regarding the work. Thank you for caring about your local RSPB nature reserve.

What has happened to the wall?

The wall is made up of low quality brick and is approximately 3ft high. It is steadily deteriorating and parts of it are leaning outwards. It has been damaged by salt spray from the road, tree roots, and has…

As we approach the third week of the boundary works, they have been progressing well and are on schedule. Visitors are enjoying the different views of the heath as they walk on the diversion and alternative trails and cyclists gain a very different experience when passing through the reserve on their journey along the diversion trail.

Thank you for using the temporary signposted trails as the work continues this week.

At this in-between time of late summer and autumn it can be a quiet period for birdlife, but we have had several raptors over the new heath recently. At least one hobby is still lingering across the heath, two kestrels hovered and soared together, several buzzards were about, and this morning a red kite flew slowly over, while a sparrowhawk was photographed bathing at the hide.

A willow warbler made a brief visit to the hide…

Bedford RSPB local group 

Thursday 20th September

Meet at ARA club, Manton Lane Bedford MK41 7PF.

Steve Portugal presents ‘Bird Migration’.

Steve is a senior lecturer in Animal Behaviour & Physiology at The Royal Holloway University of London. 

Suitable for Experts and Novices, RSPB membership not essential. 

Entrance fee, group members £1 Guest £2 annual group membership £5

Reg…

While working over in the visitor centre this week I was pleasantly surprised to see a family of spotted flycatchers, with two fairly recently fledged young, actively feeding from a yew tree out onto the edge of the new heath. We know their first attempt was unsuccessful due to predation, but It seems they must have nested and raised young much later on, which is great news. The hobbies haven't left us yet, certainly…

Contractors have started work today on carrying out essential work on the eroded wall along the B1042 boundary of the reserve, between Sandy and The Lodge entrance. Some tree removal will take place on the slopes behind the wall at this time. Lane closures managed by traffic lights will be in effect along the road during the works. For visitors arriving on foot from the station and Sandy, trail diversions will be signposted…

Our current local supplier are no longer supplying sandwiches and food.

We are currently looking for a suitable alternative, but please accept our apologies, as at this time as we are not able to provide our offer of regular fresh quality food.

Thank you.

Please note, the last mini-beast safari of the summer holidays this coming Thursday is fully booked.
Sorry to disapoint if you were hoping to come.

Pantaloons Sunday 26 August

Latest update; No tickets available on the door for either show, pre-booked tickets only due to the size of the venue. Sorry!

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Hitchin & Letchworth Local RSPB Group are starting their program for the new season with lots of interesting talks and coach trips to some great wildlife spots.

On Friday September 7th we have a talk by Stuart Elson on Colorado: The Chicken Run. Come and hear about Colorado, from knee-deep snow to barren dust bowls, where the grouse, or prairie chicken, has their entertaining courtship leks. At The Settlement,…

We are really looking forward to once again welcoming the Pantaloons outdoor theatre group this weekend, and of course the wonderful audiences that come along to see them perform .

Tickets are selling well, but you can still buy in advance from www.thepantaloons.co.uk