Oh my goodness - the National Trust of Jersey and the Royal Bank of Canada can give themselves a huge pat on the back, it is superb and I sincerely hope will be a great success.
First off from the road it just looks like a mound - the entrance is just to the right of the car
Now at this moment I must point out that Jersey roads are not normally quite this boulder and pebble strewn but we have had a couple of rather exciting high tides - there is seaweed that has been flung across the road!
No internal photos as it was quite busy but there are excellent quality info boards, a screen with a moveable camera - I will pop down another day to get photos
viewing
the view
Sand Martin and bat house
The bat roost is behind the boarded area
I was then very privileged to be taken for a sneak peek at the exterior - this is a no public access area.
Right a little bit of explanation is needed here, the letter box type slits on the left are Pip. entrances, above and slightly to the right are some small random holes - these are entrance holes for Brown Long-eared bats - then to the right are the holes for Sand Martin. The wood on the overhang is green oak that should gently weather and turn silver. None of the Sand Martin holes are lower than 6ft . It is hard to tell from the photos but the whole wall concave and slightly wavy to hopefully put of Mr & Mrs Sprawk from picking off the Sand Martins and bats as they either enter or exit. The hope is that when funds permit a live viewing camera will be fitted and maybe the odd nest camera or two. In the area there are small mammal refuges and the roof is a living roof which will be good for basking green lizards
So the down side. Currently only open from 9am to 5pm - but that will be reviewed, no toilet facilities but the car parking is just over the road and there happens to be a rather good cafe beside it that does an excellent all day breakfast and a pretty mean hot chocolate ;) So really there is no downside.
Phew exhausted now
Caroline in Jersey
Cin J
Now I can add something more for you Stitch that might add another hour. If you time your visit to coincide with Orchid flowering season you could enjoy seeing a field of 40,000 Early Purple, Southern Marsh and Purple spotted, and the odd butterfly or two
C in J
Now, that's a thought. My wife loves flowers, ( really should buy her some one day) Hang on a mo, if I do that after 40years, she'll think I'm up to something. So when do they flower please?
A T B, Steve.
Take care all, Stich.
My gallery Here Flickr Here
Interior shots from a quick visit today.
The seating and window frames were made by the carpenters from the Jersey National Trust
Info boards
And just to prove there were some bird
Female Marsh Harrier - sorry it's fuzzy but she was across the other side of the lake having a good preen - I also need to get a bean bag or something to rest the camera on
and some Shovlers
She might be fuzzy but she's still gorgeous.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
That's about the smartest hide I've ever seen. It's a shame that bird watchers have to use it and get their muddy boots all over the floor
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream