Short sleeves and wellies (and not forgetting Roy’s hat *) were the order of the day for sixteen members of the Club (eight males/eight females) on meeting Norman Holton, the site manager of Campfield Marsh, for an introductory walk around the area and an insight into the plans, progress and subsequent benefits to wildlife.

The Reserve currently consists of 200 acres of farmland, 150 acres of peat-bog, and 200 acres of saltmarsh.

The main management plans are to control water levels and grazing on the farm, to maximise the benefits for ducks and geese.

An open area of 60 acres is now flooded each winter to cater for the 5000 duck, mainly Wigeon, which take up residence. Even in summer there are areas of water and approximately 100 Teal have now returned. In an effort to recreate the habitat of a hundred years ago there has been no application of chemicals and only minimal numbers of cattle are allowed to graze. The result is that Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe are now nesting at a density of one per acre, whereas ten years ago ago there were none, and Skylark and other declining farmland birds are also nesting in higher numbers.

To farm in such an environmentally-friendly way requires liaison and agreement with neighbours who may be affected by the control of water. Working in liaison with English Nature, who also own a substantial acreage of peat-bog in the area, new and improved ditches are helping the adjoining peatbog to retain its water table as is illustrated by the more water-tolerant plant-life. Myriads of the smaller flying insects over the bog certainly brought in a large number of Swallows, together with dragonflies - of which the Reserve, with Ruddy Darter the latest addition this year, has now recorded 11 species. Our tally for the day was Common Hawker, Red and Black Darter (with perhaps one or two more which some members may have been too modest to mention).

Painted Lady and Wall were amongst the butterflies, with frog and newt showing some of the diversity of the site.

We are lucky living in an area that encompasses one of the rarest wildlife habitats in the UK: the raised bog. Do read the RSPB leaflets on the subject, and do use the alternatives to peat which are available so that we can do our bit to preserve what little we have left for the benefit of wildlife.

Green for Geese is part of the current strategy and four of the fields are being managed to provide the correct level of sward to attract the birds. Last winter goose numbers were approximately 5000 Pinkfeet and some 5000 Barnacles. Under the five-year plan, additional ‘green’ fields are being created and screening is being erected to provide viewpoints for Homo sapiens.

We just had time, as part of the tour, to visit the lay-by overlooking the pool and roost on the estuary, before the tide turned. Birds in abundance with the usual high density of Oystercatchers and gulls. Plenty of Cormorants, with Curlew, Lapwing, Grey and Golden Plover, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit amongst the larger waders. Teal and a solitary Shoveler on the pool. Linnets were obvious with quite a substantial flock twittering around the marsh. Three Great Crested Grebes and three Shelduck flew by, the latter being the first seen by the warden for a month.

More to come, and thanks to Norman for an informative tour. We now look forward to a winter visit to view the further benefits of the Reserve.

The nesting season produced Lapwing (32 pairs), Redshank (15), Teal, Curlew (12 on the Moss), and Snipe.

(* No, we didn’t see any Kangaroos, though I suppose we could have been forgiven for thinking we might have!)