Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

This project, lead by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), aims to “improve environmental opportunity for all”. The project will benefit both visitors and volunteers at the mid-Yare Nature Reserves centred at Strumpshaw Fen.

The mid-Yare nature reserves play an important role in developing skills in countryside management, with staff and volunteers from both RSPB and other organisations attending a variety of training events there. However, the ability to run such courses is limited by current facilities. This project will allow improvements to the current workshop and office to provide training areas for both practical and office skills. A cottage will also be modernised to encourage more long term volunteers to come forward and develop their skills whilst staying on the site.
Visitors will see improvements to site interpretation, with new display panels, a trail guide and a programme of events. The organisation of guided walks, boat trips and ‘family’ themed events will encourage a wider range of people to visit the reserve.

Outputs

The project will deliver a number of the Broads & Rivers’ outputs:

· 9 interpretation sites
· 25 people gaining skills in environmental management
· 25 local people involved in countryside management activities
· 110 ha improved land management

Grant Awarded

Broads & Rivers LEADER+ has provided £50,125 for capital and revenue costs, towards a total project cost of £147,296. English Nature has offered significant match funding, as has WREN (waste recycling environmental) using landfill tax credits. Smaller donations have been received from local charitable trusts and personal donations.

Contact

Sarah Burston, RSPB, sarah.burston@rspb.org.uk

If you’d like to visit Strumpshaw yourself, details and directions are given on the RSPB website at:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/strumpshawfen/index.asp