The Martin Mere Column - Hide and seek

The hide opened on 21 November to coincide with the North West Bird Watching Festival which welcomed almost 2500 visitors over the weekend to see a selection of guest speakers, exhibitors and to take part in walks and workshops.

Centre Manager, Nick Brooks, said: “The 50m ‘mega-hide’ has been well received with lots of positive comments from visitors and online through people posting photos and video on facebook and twitter.

The hide has been full everyday for the 3pm swan feed and it is a joy to see so many children and adults getting even closer to the swans and learning about them – especially as the 3pm feed now includes a wardens talk.”

Over 1300 Whooper swans are now using the Martin Mere reserve and many of them have a ring around their leg so that we can identify individual swans. Nick continues: “there is a touch screen facility in the new Discovery hide that allows you to type in a ring number and immediately get the swans history in terms of where they have been seen, number of cygnets they have had etc. This is going to be very popular, especially for children just starting to learn about these swans incredible journeys.”

The new hide has been made possible thanks to donations from WWT members, Lancashire Environmental Fund, Cargill and the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

WWT Martin Mere is open every day from 9.30am to 4.30pm and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations.

Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere/ to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight centres.