Hello everyone,
I’d like to introduce myself - I’m Emily Smith, Visitor and Promotions Officer at RSPB Saltholme, and one of three new staff members that have recently joined the Saltholme team. Caroline Found, Life Long Learning Manager, and Toby Collett, Assistant Warden are the additional two.
For the last couple of years I’ve worked at visitor attractions in the North East. On a recent break away in Scotland, I came across an RSPB ‘Aren’t Birds Brilliant’ site. I’d always had an interest in wildlife but didn’t know a huge amount about birds. The ABB group were located in a church, where a peregrine had set up home on the roof. Expecting to spend just a few minutes there, I left nearly an hour later, full of enthusiasm to learn more about birds, but also feeling passionate about what the RSPB do and the fantastic inspiring people that work so hard for them! A couple of months later and here I am!
I’m pleased to say that my role includes responsibility for the Saltholme Blog, which I plan to update every couple of weeks. However, in order to give you an idea of what has happened in the last couple of months (prior to my appointment), here is a quick round up on how Saltholme is developing:
The interior of the main building is now plastered - which may not sound hugely exciting but it makes the building feel a lot closer to being completed.
The under-floor heating has been installed and the tiled flooring is down in the café. Happily, the building and the beautifully designed Family Hide are now waterproof!
The fit out for the classrooms and office is being worked on, and the Kingfisher Room - which will be available to hire for meetings and training courses etc, is also well under way.
The enclosure for the walled garden that celebrity gardener Chris Beardshaw has designed for us is also now in place.
One of the best parts of my job is hearing from people that have grown up near the site. So many have played and watched birds on the land and it is fantastic to hear of your interest in what we are doing there. Here is one Saltholme story that I love - thanks very much to Lucy for telling it to me:
‘Born and bred in Middlesbrough there were plenty of places nearby where I could have discovered wildlife: Albert Park, Roseberry Topping and my own back garden to name a few. However my favourite was the last place most people would then have thought of to go wildlife watching: the middle of a heavy industrial area, sandwiched between ICI, British Steel and an oil refinery, a lush wetland oasis among the towers and smoke – Saltholme! It was handy to get to and we could see the pools without getting out of the car, so my parents often took my brother and me there to see what we could see.
I was just a toddler when, one late winter day, when we had a few minutes to kill, we found ourselves parked up in a lay-by with the windows down, overlooked by the famous Transporter Bridge. We didn’t wait long before a pair of Great Crested Grebes appeared and put on a full display: head shaking, synchronised diving and even the elusive penguin dance! 
It was the most magical thing I had ever seen, one of those time-stopping, rest-of-the-world-disappearing moments. Though this was nearly 30 years ago I remember it as though it were just last week. I was thrilled to hear that there was to be a new reserve opening in Teesside and wondered if it was that same spot. When I found out it was, I think I actually squealed!’
Great crested grebes are elegant looking water birds and the dance Lucy mentions is their elaborate (and very entertaining) courtship display – I hope this wets your appetite for one of the many brilliant sights you’ll be able to come and see when we are open. If all goes to plan then we hope to open our doors to you all at the end of January, so not too long!
Thank you all for your interest and support, bye for now.
Posted by Emily Smith