Chris Monk
Well-known member
Join in the fun as Minsmere nature reserve celebrates its 60th birthday 28-29/04/07
Join in the fun as Minsmere nature reserve celebrates its 60th birthday
Ian Barthorpe
Marketing & Publicity Officer
E-mail: [email protected]
RSPB Minsmere nature reserve, near Westleton, is sixty years old later this month, and visitors are invited to a free weekend of activities at the reserve to celebrate.
Minsmere became an RSPB nature reserve on 25 April 1947. Sixty years on, the RSPB is organising a celebration weekend called 'Spring on the Suffolk Coast' on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April. Entry to Minsmere will be free for the weekend.
'Spring on the Suffolk Coast' includes five free guided walks each day lasting for about 90 minutes. Places will be limited so you are advised to arrive early. He first walk will start at 10 am. There will be RSPB guides in some of the birdwatching hides throughout the day, helping visitors to spot some of Minsmere's special wildlife.
For families, there will be free pond dipping each day. Advance booking is not needed. In the tearoom, visitors can buy Minsmere birthday cake to help the RSPB to celebrate this special occasion.
Visitors will have the chance to test binoculars and telescopes at the biggest optics day of the year at Minsmere, with leading manufacturers Viking, Swarovski and Leica all present.
RSPB spokesman Ian Barthorpe encourages visitors to enjoy a day out at Minsmere. 'There is no better time of year to be at Minsmere than late April. Most of the summer migrants will have returned, including nightingales, cuckoos and the sand martins that usually nest outside the tearoom.
'On the Scrape you should see nesting avocets and a variety of other wading birds and gulls. In the reedbed, look out for displaying marsh harriers, and if you're really lucky you might hear a booming bittern.'
Notes
For photographs of Minsmere please contact Ian Barthorpe on the above number, or email him at [email protected]
Notes to editors
1. RSPB Minsmere nature reserve is open daily, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 9 am to dusk. The visitor centre is open 9 am to 5 pm (4 pm November to January). Minsmere is signposted from the A12 at Yoxford and Blythburgh and from Westleton village.
2. The full programme of activities for Spring on the Suffolk Coast is:
Free guided walks at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm
Free pond dipping at 10.30 am – 12.30 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm
Guides in hides 10 am – 4 pm
Optical equipment demonstration 10 am to 4 pm
3. The weekend is free, and booking is not required.
4. Minsmere became RSPB nature reserve on 25 April 1947, when the RSPB signed an agreement to manage the site. The RSPB bought Minsmere in 1977 following an appeal to RSPB members.
5. Avocets were absent as breeding birds in the UK for 100 years until they returned to nest at Minsmere and Havergate Island (an RSPB nature reserve since 1948) in 1947.
6. More than 330 species of birds have been recorded at Minsmere, plus 23 dragonflies and damselflies, 33 butterflies, more than 1,000 species of moth and many plants.
Join in the fun as Minsmere nature reserve celebrates its 60th birthday
Ian Barthorpe
Marketing & Publicity Officer
E-mail: [email protected]
RSPB Minsmere nature reserve, near Westleton, is sixty years old later this month, and visitors are invited to a free weekend of activities at the reserve to celebrate.
Minsmere became an RSPB nature reserve on 25 April 1947. Sixty years on, the RSPB is organising a celebration weekend called 'Spring on the Suffolk Coast' on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April. Entry to Minsmere will be free for the weekend.
'Spring on the Suffolk Coast' includes five free guided walks each day lasting for about 90 minutes. Places will be limited so you are advised to arrive early. He first walk will start at 10 am. There will be RSPB guides in some of the birdwatching hides throughout the day, helping visitors to spot some of Minsmere's special wildlife.
For families, there will be free pond dipping each day. Advance booking is not needed. In the tearoom, visitors can buy Minsmere birthday cake to help the RSPB to celebrate this special occasion.
Visitors will have the chance to test binoculars and telescopes at the biggest optics day of the year at Minsmere, with leading manufacturers Viking, Swarovski and Leica all present.
RSPB spokesman Ian Barthorpe encourages visitors to enjoy a day out at Minsmere. 'There is no better time of year to be at Minsmere than late April. Most of the summer migrants will have returned, including nightingales, cuckoos and the sand martins that usually nest outside the tearoom.
'On the Scrape you should see nesting avocets and a variety of other wading birds and gulls. In the reedbed, look out for displaying marsh harriers, and if you're really lucky you might hear a booming bittern.'
Notes
For photographs of Minsmere please contact Ian Barthorpe on the above number, or email him at [email protected]
Notes to editors
1. RSPB Minsmere nature reserve is open daily, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 9 am to dusk. The visitor centre is open 9 am to 5 pm (4 pm November to January). Minsmere is signposted from the A12 at Yoxford and Blythburgh and from Westleton village.
2. The full programme of activities for Spring on the Suffolk Coast is:
Free guided walks at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm
Free pond dipping at 10.30 am – 12.30 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm
Guides in hides 10 am – 4 pm
Optical equipment demonstration 10 am to 4 pm
3. The weekend is free, and booking is not required.
4. Minsmere became RSPB nature reserve on 25 April 1947, when the RSPB signed an agreement to manage the site. The RSPB bought Minsmere in 1977 following an appeal to RSPB members.
5. Avocets were absent as breeding birds in the UK for 100 years until they returned to nest at Minsmere and Havergate Island (an RSPB nature reserve since 1948) in 1947.
6. More than 330 species of birds have been recorded at Minsmere, plus 23 dragonflies and damselflies, 33 butterflies, more than 1,000 species of moth and many plants.
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