Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

porpoiseful....

Thanks to Alan and friends, who have emailed to let us know that they spotted a porpoise swimming out with the tide near Mariner's Wharf on Saturday. Any other interesting sightings, drop us a line at [email protected] or leave a comment on this blog.

Can you help the Godwit Patrol?

A round-the-clock nest protection operation is ready to swing into action this spring when one of the UK’s rarest birds returns to nest on the Ribble Estuary, but more volunteers are needed.

Black-tailed godwits are a tall elegant wading bird whose numbers are threatened across Europe, due to loss of its natural nesting habitat and persecution by egg collectors.

Less than 60 pairs of the long-legged wading birds breed in the whole of the UK and the two pairs on the Ribble are the only ones to nest in the North West.

When the birds return the RSPB and Fylde Bird Club will mount a 24-hour guard on the nests.

If you can help please go along to the Ribble Discovery Centre, Fairhaven Lake, St Annes at 7pm on Thursday 5 April 2007.  Alternatively, contact Carol Coupe on 01995 642251 or e-mail [email protected].

a sense of porpoise....

Just a quick post to tell you about an email we've received from Susan, who spotted a porpoise swimming in the Mersey around 4pm on Sunday afternoon, just off Eastham Ferry. If anyone else sees anything interesting, let us know on [email protected]

Brockholes secured for wildlife

Brockholes wetland in Lancashire will be turned into a huge new nature reserve after supporters raised over £50,000.

Brockholes features open water, reed beds and flower-rich grassland, and adjoins the largest ancient woodland in Lancashire where badgers and bluebells thrive.

Funding of £1.5 million had already been arranged by Lancashire Wildlife Trust to purchase the site.  But to release the cash and secure the deal the trust needed to find an extra £50,000 within a month.

A flood of donations met a public appeal just before Christmas reaching  the total in only three weeks. .

Trust chief executive Anne Selby, said: "This is the biggest land purchase in the history of the Wildlife Trust and we thank the people of Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside for their generosity."

The site, which is encircled by the River Ribble, is the size of 130 football pitches and sits adjacent to junction 31 of the M6.  It is already home to a fantastic variety of bird life including Lapwing, Sand Martin and Kingfisher, together with more vulnerable species such as Whimbrel, Skylark and Reed Bunting.

Visitors will be encouraged to walk, cycle or perhaps even paddle a canoe to experience the wildlife face to face.  The first part of the project will be to work on drainage, pathways, signage and safety features and the second phase will include the construction of classrooms, shops and a visitor centre

Creating a better place for wildlife

For those of you who aren't aware, the Environment Agency have produced a document summarising how their work helps biodiversity. It's only a summary so it's not too overbearing at 28 pages long!

Click here for the document, which has some amazing photos in it

Warrington seal strikes again!

Allan has emailed to tell us that he spotted a(nother?) seal in Warrington on 29th December around midday - it looked like a young animal. Any other sightings? Email us or leave a comment to let us know what you've seen around our waterways.....

seal of approval

Flipping heck. A seal created huge excitement on Friday morning when it appeared in the pond at Woolston Park in Warrington. Apparently the unexpected guest chased ducks and fish around the pond, much to the delight of a gathering crowd on the banks. It seems that the creature must have swum up the Mersey to reach the park, and the authorities believe he (or she) is still loitering in the area.

If you saw the seal, let us know, or send us a picture at [email protected]