The RSPB's Rainham Marshes visitor centre is in the running for another award. This time it's the Wood Awards - an accolade for craftsmanship and design - and our nomination for the prize is highlighted in the Guardian which describes the building as 'a slice of Palm Springs modernism'. It's a shame the Guardian plonks the building on Romney Marshes. It is less than two months since Rainham Marshes’ colourful Environment and Education Centre was made one of 14 top UK buildings by the Royal Institute of British Architects. It has also won the Green Apple award for Sustainable Design and been shortlisted for another three prizes. From the building, you have fine views over much of the marshes and the tally for bird species seen so far is now 250-plus. Ospreys, marsh harriers and red kites were seen at the weekend, migrating wading birds will be passing through soon and, come October, flocks of teal, wigeon and lapwing, numbering 7,000 or more, will be arriving for the winter. Plant and insect lovers will find plenty to interest them too and right now, there are more than 20 different dragonflies on the site. Rainham Marshes is an ancient marshland, bought by the RSPB in 2000 and opened to the public last November. It was used as a firing range by the Ministry of Defence until just ten years ago. We will know next month if we have triumphed in the Wood Awards but in the meantime are looking forward to welcoming hundreds more visitors over the coming bank holiday and beyond. Nick Bruce-White, Rainham Marshes Manager, said: "This new nomination is yet more recognition of our work. We really stuck our necks out on the design of the building and it has paid off. It's always a good time to come to Rainham Marshes but if you're looking for something just a little unusual, now is as good a time as any to visit. Thousands of birds are migrating south and many of them will fly over or stop by at Rainham." Click here for the Guardian report.
And here for more on Rainham Marshes.