Deep in the reedbed, something is stirring. And banging. And grinding. It's the sound of work underway on the latest improvements to our facilities, to enable you to get closer to wildlife.
The most noticeable change so far is the removal of the bank at the far end of Cae Conwy, the open space between the two buildings and the start of the trails. Removing the bank instantly changes the view, so from the Visitor Centre you can now see the reeds and the alder carr beyond. It's a view that no-one has ever seen, for when the bund was created in the early 1990s, there were neither trees nor reeds there.
We've used the earth to fill a large pond that has been enjoyed by thousands of youngsters as their introduction to a wet and wiggly world, but which unfortunately had been taken over by an invasive Antipodean plant, Crassula helmsii. At the moment, it looks exactly like what it is, a large slab of wet soil, so we'll have to keep this small area closed off for a few months - but we're keen to hear ideas about how it could be used in the future. The reserve's Wildlife Explorers Club members have already drawn us lots of pictures with their thoughts. It'll be the autumn before we make any changes, giving the soil and vegetation a chance to dry out and bind together.
But hidden among the reeds and the alders are even greater changes. Volunteers have almost completed the creation of a replacement pond, and this will have a proper platform so that kids can dip their nets without dipping themselves in mud (actually most children don't notice, it's the parent who does the washing that does). Last week, our team of field teachers previewed the pond and found the first sign of life: a solitary water beetle. But as spring approaches, we're sure that wildlife will find this new habitat very quickly.
The final part of the jigsaw is a new boardwalk, funded by the donations of many and the hard work of volunteers in the RSPB Conwy Support Group. It's wider, less slippery and longer than the old boardwalk, with new ponds and channels alongside that will be home to bugs, beetles and dragonflies over the next couple of years. A winding walk through the reeds takes you to a new viewpoint looking across the lagoon and to the hills beyond. It's going to be brilliant, but you'll have to wait just a little longer. We hope to have the boardwalk available for use later this month and we're planning an official opening in May to thank everyone who helped raise funds for it.
Amid all the diggers, dumpers, drills and nailguns, you'd think the birds would run (or fly) a mile. But they've been very tolerant. In fact, I've heard the 'squealing pig' sound of water rails almost every time I've been down to check on progress. The reeds are just starting to emerge from the soil and it will be only a few months before you'll walk the planks, warblers chittering and chuntering all around and you'd never know that we'd done a thing - except you won't get the feeling that you might fall through the boardwalk.