PLANS by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to provide facilities to watch birds at its Marshside Nature Reserve have attracted £25,000 from the European Regional Development Fund.

Marshside forms part of the extensive Ribble estuary and is of international importance for bird conservation. In winter it supports large numbers of pink-footed geese, wigeon, lapwings and golden plover. In spring the reserve's coastal grazing marshes host nesting wading birds such as lapwing, redshank and snipe.

The reserve provides some of the most exciting opportunities in the country to see coastal wading birds and wildfowl at close quarters. The RSPB is committed to providing facilities suitable for everyone from keen bird-watchers to tourists interested in finding out more about the wildlife of the estuary.

For further information contact Tony Baker, warden (01704 880797) or Andre Farrer, RSPB regional public affairs officer (01484 861148).

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