We now have our own website up and running and it is actively maintained and growing due to the enthusiasm and hard work of two local friends and supporters. Please visit our site often; they've done a tremendous job setting it up. There are historical notes, a list of our priorities for the next 3 years and a diary of events and lots more.

There's also a page listing all the 73 bird species recorded on, over and near the reserve in the last 5 years, with links for each bird to the corresponding RSPB web page so you can find out more about it. This is based on the records of two local residents, Jean and Dave Roberts, to whom we are most grateful.

We have produced a leaflet about the nature reserve, with generous support from Derby City Council. Again this has been largely the result of a lot of hard work by one of our supporters.

Both the website and the leaflet incorporate our nature reserve logo which is based on a design by Amy Kelly, a pupil at Walter Evans School. Amy's design was judged the winner from over a hundred entries in a competition run in the school. Walter Evans School visited the Reserve in May last year, and a class from Waingroves School visited in November.

Another hard winter has brought a variety of birds to the reserve. Redwings and fieldfares were seen in large numbers, though siskin was recorded only once (a flock of 20). On the river pairs of goosander, a crimson billed duck, and of teal, our smallest duck were seen, as well as tufted duck and little grebe. A large flock of about 100 lapwings was seen on the marshy land across the river in the depths of winter, and to add to the excitement the snow allowed one to follow the tracks of rabbits, foxes and other mammals across the Reserve.

Please note our meetings and events in 2010 which are listed on our events page, such as the Dawn Chorus Walk on May 9, a further Open Meeting October 14, and the autumn nature walk October 31. Please see our events page for 2010.

There will also be one or more opportunities for volunteers to help with work on the site. Dates to be notified soon, please read about it on this page. If you are not on my email list please contact me.

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