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Newport Wetlands celebrated its first birthday this month, a stormy day with intermittent sideways hail, rain and gale force winds. Never the less we had a good attendance with a number of activities. The last two days the weather has been beautiful, and it looks like spring is finally here after a long and bitter winter.

The first hint of spring you'll notice will be when you’re driving down to Newport Wetlands, a number of fields contain newly born lambs. They are always a lovely sight.

We have had a number of migrants arriving in the last couple of weeks. Recently I saw the first sand martins of the year. Two of them were flying at high speed up and down Perry Lane outside the visitor centre. They are usually amongst the first migrants to arrive in Britain and have just spent the British winter in tropical West Africa. I have also received information that two reed warblers have also made their way back from Africa.

We had a number of excited visitors coming into the centre last week as a pair of great crested grebes were nest building and demonstrating a courtship dance very close to the first screen in the reedbeds. By the time I got up there after the centre was closed they were tired out and were lazily bobbing around on the water…typical! I hope to see them this week however as it is a very impressive dance involving lots of vigorous head shaking and culminates in both birds lifting their whole bodies out of the water upright breast to breast.

We have had a bit more work done here now. We have our own bus shelter in the car park now and a regular bus service making us very much more accessible. We have also had a number of additions to the play area; this should be fully open by the end of the week and includes a toddler cargo ship play area and a zip wire linking the original lighthouse to the new area.

 

For anyone who wants to enjoy Newport Wetlands but doesn’t have their own transport, your prayers have been answered. Newport Council and Francis Drake Travel are starting a bus service as of Monday 9th of February available from Monday through to Saturday.

The service starts at 7am from Newport Bus Station stand 29. It runs throughout the day with the last bus leaving Newport Wetlands Reserve at 6.36pm. It will actually turn around in the Newport Wetlands car park and so the only energy you will have to exert will be enjoying a scenic walk around the reserve.

Newport has excellent rail links so now people who want to travel in a sustainable fashion (or to avoid paying a bridge fee if travelling from England!) can now do so.

One of the great things about working at the Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre is that it is still very much growing and evolving. Since I started here in April, the environs have developed enormously. What once looked very much like a muddy building site is now maturing beautifully. The grass has grown (too much in some areas!) we have new raised pond dipping areas installed, and recently work has been completed on a 'ridge and furrow' project which shall hopefully not only improve the view from the coffee shop but increase the quantities of birds that will be seen from the centre. We have a new play area coming soon for younger children and a picnic area shall appear shortly.

The project that I am most excited about is the reeds that were planted a few weeks ago. Thanks to a small but incredibly dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteers somewhere in the region of 40,000 reeds were planted in just two days. This was a super human effort by all that took part. They don't look that impressive at the moment but this time next year we should have the beginnings of a beautiful, vibrant (and very dense) reedbed. In years to come the reeds will pulse with life, the buzz of invertebrates like dragonflies and the lyrical twittering of a number of different warblers shall greet visitors to the centre who will be treated to a 'birds eye view' of the reeds!

Reedbed habitat over the last hundred years has become increasingly rare with many being drained for agriculture. Reeds make for a very useful habitat; a number of species need reed beds to live, breed or to feed. They are also a great natural way of cleaning and filtering water.

The summer is at an end now…we are all looking forward to the autumn and winter migrants arriving now. We can expect to start seeing huge flocks of starlings, and large numbers of dunlin also shoveler and pintail ducks. If you are very lucky, you may see short-eared owls or even a bittern or two!

At least 1,500 people enjoyed almost summer like weather conditions at the Newport Wetlands Open Day. The day was great success with a number of stalls, guided walks, pond dipping and bug hunting sessions. All this was obviously in addition to the Wetlands fascinating nature walks, and ever-popular lighthouse play area.

The swans as usual were sat pride of place showing off their new family just to the left of the bridge by the entrance. I believe they must now be some of the most photographed birds in the world!!

Also, we will be getting out and about this summer.  From Saturday 2nd until Saturday 9th August, some of the Newport Wetlands team will be at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff. 

At our stand, you will be able to experience some of the great hands-on activities that take place at the visitor centre - you can help us create a giant millipede, dragonfly and swan.  Take time to browse the wildlife gifts and goodies in the shop and find out more about what to see and do when you visit the wetlands - Come along and see us at the Eisteddfod if you get chance.

The last few weeks have seen the arrival of five cygnets to our resident pair of mute swans. The canada geese who also frequent the pond next to the centre have produced two goslings which are doing very well. The cuckoo has departed and is making its way back to sunnier climes in Africa. Some other birds which have been seen on a daily basis are tufted ducks, shelducks, great crested grebes, Avocet, little egret, heron, kestrel, oystercatcher, lapwing and many different warblers and finches.

EVERY TUESDAY - LATE OPENING    We now open every Tuesday until 8pm. If you wish to book for a guided walk please contact the centre, £2.50 per person, £1.50 per person (RSPB members). If you wish to hire the education room or Lakeside suite please ring Adrianne Jones (01633) 636355. If you are interested in a community group having a talk please contact Marie Preston (01633) 636353.

OTHER EVENTS THIS SUMMER :-

Saturday 2nd August  11am-1pm

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH ! - Learn about helping the environment while creating a work of art from rubbish. A great day of family fun.

Wednesday 6th August  10am-12pm

DAMSELS AND DRAGONS - A walk to see these fascinating insects that have been around since before the dinosaurs. They are voracious predators yet can't bite or sting you !

Saturday 16th August  11.30am -1.30pm

THE TEDDY BEARS PICNIC - Bring your favourite teddy bear, and a packed lunch to enjoy a day at Newport Wetlands. Activities will include a walk around the environs, story telling, face painting and a discovery bug hunt. RSPB members £1.50 per child, non-members £2.50 booking is essential as places are limited.

         Newport Wetlands

Summer Holidays Events List

                                                          

Why not bring the children to the Newport Wetlands for the day?

During the summer, there are many activities to join in, but if there is nothing organised there is still plenty to enjoy, walk around the reserve, visit the café and shop, use the lovely picnic area and most importantly to the children is the fun lighthouse-climbing frame.  All with free car parking.

Tuesday 22^nd July  10.30 – 12.00 

Beginners Bird Watching- Ages 5- 11 years.  Come and discover the birds of the wetlands, learn how to become a successful spotter. Binoculars provided, identification tick list, badges and a certificate.

Thursday 24^th July 1.00 – 2.30

Pond Dipping – Ages 5 –11 years. With our field teachers, explore the habitat of the environs ponds.

Tuesday 22^nd July – 1.00 –2.30      Beginners Bird Watching

Thursday 24^th July  – 1.00 – 2.30  Pond Dipping

Tuesday 29^nd July – 1.00 –2.30      Beginners Bird Watching

Thursday 31^st July  – 1.00 – 2.30   Pond Dipping

Tuesday 5^th August – 1.00 –2.30    Beginners Bird Watching

Thursday 7^th August – 1.00 – 2.30  Pond Dipping

Tuesday 12^th August – 1.00 –2.30    Beginners Bird Watching

Saturday 16^th August – 11.30-1.30  Teddy Bears Picnic

Thursday 14^th August – 1.00 – 2.30 Pond Dipping

Tuesday 19^th August – 1.00 –2.30    Beginners Bird Watching

Thursday 21^th August – 1.00 – 2.30 Pond Dipping

Cost: RSPB Members £1.50 per child, Non Members £2.50 per child

An adult must accompany children. Booking is essential as places are limited. 

Please contact: RSPB Wetlands 01633 636350

Please call into Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre to pick up a more detailed events programme, enjoy a coffee or take a walk out into the reserve.

 

 

It's certainly been a busy few weeks! On Wed 16 April, Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) officially declared Newport Wetlands as Wales' first urban National Nature Reserve. What a great accolade.

The RSPB Visitor centre on the reserve has been open around six weeks now and many people (and birds) have come to visit.

The Easter Egg hunt that took place on Easter saturday was a big success, with lots of children having fun finding clues dotted around the reserve, they even got to meet the Easter bunny!
 
The children's play area has proved popular among our younger visitors -a big thankyou to Newport City Council Landfill Communities Fund and CCW for their financial contribution to this.  The lighthouse climbing frame is already a firm favorite.  We often see parents gazing wistfully at it as though longing for a go themselves!

Countless different birds have been spotted on the reserve, and the last two weeks have been particularly exciting as many of the winter migrants have left and the first of the summer visitors have arrived.

We have welcomed swallows, sand martins and house martins and said goodbye to the fieldfares and redwings.  On a daily basis we see kestrels, canada geese, mute swans, moorhens, coots, bearded tits, chiffchaffs, Cetti's warblers, plovers, reed buntings, little grebes, great crested grebes and little egrets.
 
It's not only birds that have been making their presence felt. A stoat, grass snake, and otter were all spotted within the last week too.

If you haven't had a chance to come and see us yet then pop in when you get the chance.  Countryside Council for Wales are holding a guided walk on the reserve to celebrate the dawn chorus on Sunday 4 May.  It's an early start (5:15 am!) but well worth it to hear the beautiful bird song and get tips on how to identify a bird by its song.  Plus the Coffee Shop will be open afterwards for a reviving breakfast.

What a day! The family event at the new Newport Wetlands Education and Environmental Visitor Centre was a complete success.

Packed to the rafters, the centre received a baptism of fire. Thank goodness the weather forecasters got it wrong!

In true Pied Piper fashion, our special guest Iolo Williams - broadcaster and naturalist - and Countryside Council for Wales guides led scores of families out onto the wider reserve to explore the wildlife.

Cetti's Warblers could be heard and for those with keen eyes, Bearded tits were spotted! Support for the Newport Wetlands on the open day was overwhelming with people enjoying pond dipping, arts and craft activities, detective nature trails and,of course, Iolo! Relaxing in the café with a latte and sandwich was, for many, all that was required.

This was a day that south east Wales and Newport can be proud of with over 1200 people visiting the Centre, and it must be rewarding for those visionaries who have championed the need for an establishment like this for so long. As the site develops and the events and footfall increase we can look forward with relish the idea that we may become one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Wales.

Kiddies' Corner

As part of the activities, the RSPB also set a competition for children to write a poem about the wetlands and what they seen on the visit to the reserve and the winner was 7 year old Georgia Durkee from Newport who wrote;

I Love Newport Wetlands

I love Newport wetlands,
It's a great day out, better than Alton Towers and all that stuff about.
To see the swans and ducks swimming gracefully on the lake warms my heart and makes me laugh,
we are so lucky to have this place.
I look out for footprints hidden in the muddy ground,
It shows that animals come out to play to pass the time away.
So come on people bring a picnic perhaps some binoculars too,
And come and visit this wonderful place you will love it too.

Thank you all for your support at the family event here at Newport Wetlands. This is a new era and one we can all be proud of.

The RSPB has opened its lovely, welcoming new centre in south Wales!

Our brand new Environmental Education and Visitor Centre at Newport Wetlands is magnificent, and what a great day we had yesterday officially opening it.

The weather was crisp and dry, like a beautiful spring day should be, and the building looked fantastic – with the new team buzzing round putting the finishing touches to the place.

Kate Humble, RSPB Vice President, broadcaster and naturalist, arrived early, to join in the pond dipping sessions with pupils from Ringland Primary School and Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd - they were incredibly excited to be the first to explore the new education facilities.

The value of having an educational resource like this was illustrated beautifully by the excitement of the kids (and Kate!) when they caught a stickleback in the pond. They were over the moon and used the centre's new bug viewers to get a good look at it.

The children are among 3,000 school pupils that are expected to visit the centre each year, and they now have two super-dooper new classrooms, each with interactive whiteboards, to use when the weather turns poor (wet weather in Wales? surely not!).

At midday, Kate and The Right Worshipful Mayor of Newport Councillor Allan Morris, cut the ribbon and allowed visitors into our brand new centre for the very first time - and they loved it! The centre is nestled among reeds and pools, which will soon become inhabited by the local birdlife. The large glass windows from floor to ceiling will make this a great spot to watch the wildlife, whilst relaxing with a latte from the Coffee Shop.

After lunch, we ventured outdoors to explore the reserve, hearing Cetti's warblers as we weaved through the reedbeds, and little grebes nearby. Standing by East Usk Lighthouse and looking out over the estuary was beautiful – if a little blustery! - and as we got back to the centre, a little egret had come in to land on one of the pools surrounding the building. It seems that the birds love the place as much as we do.

Thanks to everyone who came along and made our launch day so special. And a huge thanks to all the partner organisations that have worked so hard with us to get here, and without whom the centre would not have been possible.

Don't forget, all are welcome to come and celebrate the opening of the new visitor centre at a family event on Sunday 9 March, with special guest Iolo Williams, broadcaster and naturalist. The event is open to all, for more information please visit www.rspb.org.uk/events or call the visitor centre on (01633) 636363.

If you can't make it this time then why not come to our Easter event on Saturday 22 March, or just pop in and see us anytime you like – we are open every day from 9 am to 5 pm (Coffee Shop is open 1 0am to 4 pm).

Thankyou

The development of the centre has been supported by Newport City Council and Countryside Council for Wales. The project is funded by the European Union's Objective Two programme supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and secured via the Newport European Partnership, Newport City Council's allocation of the Welsh Assembly Government's Local Regeneration Fund, Newport City Council's Landfill Communities Fund, The Crown Estate, the Environment Agency Wales and Visit Wales. Interpretation at Newport Wetlands has been part-funded by Welsh Power.

Thursday 14 February had a treat in store for all of us in the Newport team – but not of the romantic kind! The new environmental education and visitor centre was officially handed over to the RSPB. Valentine’s Day was appropriate as we are all totally in love with the place and have already settled into the offices, making ourselves thoroughly at home.

Next month we officially open our doors and welcome the first visitors through. Our big family event to celebrate the opening will be held at the centre on Sunday 09 March and we are really looking forward to it. Iolo Williams, broadcaster and naturalist, will be our special guest for the day and will be meeting visitors, as well as getting involved with some of the fun activities we have planned.

You can be among the first to explore the centre and enjoy a latte or mocha in the coffee shop.  A range of fairtrade food and drink will be available, as well as produce from local suppliers, as we are very keen to support traders in south Wales. See you there!

As the New Year gets well underway, many people will have pledged to make a positive change to their lifestyles in 2008. With this in mind, RSPB Cymru has been urging people to make a New Year resolution to become a volunteer - it's a great way to keep active, give nature a boost and meet new people.

Here at Newport Wetlands we will be welcoming volunteers with open arms as we begin to recruit the pioneering team of people, willing to give their time freely to help get the visitor centre off to a flying start.

A day of sessions for all who are interested in volunteering will take place on Thursday 24 January at the University of Wales, Newport - Allt-yr-yn campus from 10 am to 12 pm, 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The sessions will be a friendly introduction to RSPB Cymru and a chance to discover more about volunteering at Newport Wetlands.

For more information about attending the sessions or to find out more about the volunteer roles available, please contact Jonathan Cook on (029) 2035 3047, email: volunteer.cymru@rspb.org.uk
or visit: www.rspb.org.uk/wales/volunteering

It has been a real mix of weather this month. Hats and gloves were on for the start of 2008, with a week of icy cold weather and now the wellies are out as we are having an extremely wet and windy week – brrr!

The rain isn't bothering the wildlife though - we have more overwintering lapwings on the reserve at the moment than counted in previous winters and, for the first time on record avocets have spent the winter here. Eight pairs are currently in residence, which is excellent news and gives us high hopes that they will have another successful breeding season on the reserve (between them they raised 11 young last year).

There have been no bittern sightings so far. In the past, a solitary bittern has been seen among the reedbeds in early January, but nothing has been spotted yet this year – there is still time for it to put in an appearance though so keep watching.

Meanwhile, the wildbird cover crop that we planted last year is continuing to attract lots of avian attention. On Thursday 3 January, we counted 715 chaffinches and 150 linnets on the mixture of sunflowers, triticale and kale.

Welcome to our brand new Newport Wetlands blog. We'll be keeping you up to date with the news from south Wales as we prepare to open the doors to the RSPB's brand new visitor centre in spring.

2007 has been an exciting year at the Newport Wetlands reserve.

The impressive new building (left) has really taken shape with its striking copper-panelled fin slicing through the middle.

Inside the building, there's an education room for school visits, family events and community activities, conference facilities for local organisations and businesses, as well as a shop and café for visitors to relax in. The pond-dipping platform is certain to be one of the most popular parts, and will allow visitors to get close to some of the local creepy crawlies!

Most importantly, the centre will be a welcoming gateway into the beautiful reserve, with its mix of habitats and stunning wildlife. The lagoons at Goldcliff are home to wading birds such as lapwings, avocets and black-tailed godwits. On the estuary, curlews, redshanks, dunlins and oystercatchers feed, whilst bearded tits, Cetti's warblers, reed buntings and water rails can be seen in the reedbeds. At the moment we are also on the lookout for a single bittern, which may make an appearance this winter, having been seen at the reserve every winter since 2001.

There are already thousands flocking to the reserve on a daily basis - thousands of starlings that is! More than 50,000 starlings gather over the reserve at dusk in great black clouds, chattering noisily as they swoop and circle overhead, before dropping dramatically into the reedbeds, where they settle down for the night. The sight and sound is a winter experience not to be missed.

On Sunday 9 December, Countryside Council for Wales are hosting their 'Reedbeds in Winter' event, taking visitors on a guided walk to see some of the overwintering birds at the reserve and finishing with this magnificent starling spectacle. Wrap up warm and meet at the reserve car park at 2.30 pm to join the walk, we look forward to seeing you!

Keep checking our blog for more news, or to receive our e-newsletter, with details of events and more, just send an e-mail to: rspb@newportwetlands.com

• The Newport Wetlands reserve is owned and managed by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), which has entered into a partnership with Newport City Council and the RSPB to develop the visitor and education facilities at the site.