If you have ever visited Winterbourne Downs, I wonder whether you can remember our old, sagging, slightly decomposing and a little bit mouldy, reed stone-curlew viewing screen? It were second hand when we acquired it, and the holes had been cut in the wrong place for our needs, so it was very much a make do and mend job.
Well, those of you who remember it, and those who used it, might be pleased to learn it has now been replaced with a brand new wooden viewing screen!
The new viewing screen is made from oak and cedar, sourced locally by a company called The Timber Mill, based in Dinton, near Salisbury. In fact, the oak came from a tree near Wilton that was blown down in the gales over winter.
To help with the construction of the screen, RSPB Arne nature reserve kindly lent us their residential volunteers. Rose, Joe and Alex came up to Winterbourne downs for three days, and did an amazing job helping me with everything from digging the post holes in the rock hard chalk in the 28 ˚c heat (that was a tough day!) to measuring and sawing up wood. They were really hard workers and at the end I didn’t want to send them back to Arne!
The completed screen looks really good, and provides much better viewing opportunities across to the stone-curlew plot. At the end of the breeding season, stone-curlews form post breeding flocks, which can get as large as 70 birds. For the past couple of years, we have had a very modest flock on the stone-curlew plot next to the nature trail, so the screen will provide the perfect place to quietly watch them.
If you would like to see the stone-curlew roost, why not join us on one of our stone-curlew safaris? They are running on the 9th, 16th and 30th August, and on the 6th September. More details and booking information can be found on the Winterbourne Downs webpage, or by searching the RSPB events page.
Joe, Alex and Rose cutting up timber for the screen
Screen construction
The screen starts to take shape! Looking good Alex and Joe.
Rose fixes the final pieces in to place
The finished viewing screen! Looks amazing, and lots of room for telescopes.
Thank you guys!
Keeley