21st July 2011

A Morning at Moor Green Lakes

If you like the idea of getting up close to wildlife, then come along to Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve on Sunday 21^st August. There’s plenty going on during the morning, which is being run by the Moor Green Lakes Group. You can join a bird walk and see some of the visiting and resident birds; find out what’s involved with bird ringing and watch a group in action; get close-up to moths; find out more about dragonflies and damselflies; look for small mammal and reptiles; or learn about the site’s management. If that’s not enough to keep the children occupied they can also go on a bug hunt, try their hand at pond dipping or even do some quizzes or colouring-in. And it’s all free!

During the 1980s Moor Green Lakes was a mineral extraction site, but through careful restoration it opened at a nature reserve in 1993 and has become one of the premier birding sites in the area with over 200 bird species recorded there. Owned by CEMEX, the site is managed by the Moor Green Lakes Group with the assistance of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership. On Sunday 21^st visitors will have the opportunity of finding out what’s involved with looking after the site and can get an insight into future plans for the adjacent Manor Farm site, which is being transformed into a superb area for wildlife with reed beds, scrapes, open water, grassland and woodland.

Kingfisher by Tim Ball Normally visitors can only walk round the perimeter of this impressive 35 hectare site to avoid disturbing the birds. On this special open morning there are numerous walks being led by experts from the group taking visitors to some of the restricted areas. Anyone wanting to find out more about the history of the site and future plans can join one of the two site ‘discovery’ walks which includes a visit to see the Reading and Basingstoke Ringing group working on site. This small group of independent ringers work closely with local conservation groups, landowners and councils and started ringing at Moor Green in 2007. Walks leave every 30 minutes from 9am to 11am and are restricted to 20 people per group, so if you would like to book a place please phone 01252 331353.

Anyone with a passion for birds can join one of the two bird walks scheduled for 9.30am and 11am. In addition to the walks visitors can meet the experts with static displays on dragonflies, damselflies and moths. But sorry, no dogs!

Children will find plenty to do with a range of special activities aimed to keep them amused, from discovering more about the ‘alien’ creatures in the lakes and mini-beast hunts, to colouring and nature quizzes.

A morning at Moor Green Lakes will run from 9am through to 1pm at Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve in Finchampstead RG40 3TJ. Access is from the car park located in Lower Sandhurst Road or by foot via the footbridge over the River Blackwater from Moulsham Green. For more details ring 01252 331353 or visit www.blackwater-valley.org.uk.

END

More About Moor Green Lakes >>>

More about Reading and Basingstoke Ringing >>>

For further information contact:
Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331353. Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 2PS.

EDITOR NOTES

Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve is owned by CEMEX, who have been extracting sand and gravel in the area for well over 20 years. They helped and establish and now support the Moor Green Lakes Group, local volunteers who look after the Reserve.
Membership of the Moor Green Lakes Group offers unlimited access to the two hides on the Reserve, two newsletters a year and an informative annual report. Members are encouraged to help with conservation work during the winter.
More details about Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve can be found on their website www.mglg.org.uk/
The Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership (BVCP) is funded by the County, District and Parish Councils along the River Blackwater. It works to promote community action in conservation and recreation and to protect the Valley for the enjoyment and well being of the whole community.
Members of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership are: Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council; the District, Town, Borough and Parish Councils of Ash, Blackwater & Hawley, Farnham, Finchampstead, Guildford, Hart, Rushmoor, Sandhurst, Surrey Heath, Wokingham and Yateley.