Hi everyone,
Some blog readers may have already heard about Saltholme at War - it'll be the biggest even that we've ever put on. On 19 and 20 March, you'll see Saltholme transformed into a wartime farm, complete with military vehicles, 1940s tractors and breeds of sheep and cattle that would have grazed the land during the war years.
We're also going to showcase personal stories and photographs of the site's rich wartime history - and this is where you come in. Do you know someone who was involved with Saltholme or the nearby industry 70 years ago?
Saltholme used be a farm, the aptly named Saltholme Farm. It was used as an army camp during World War II and then, in 1945, German prisoners-of-war worked on the fields next to what is now the car park. Next time you're strolling up to the visitor centre, stop and have a quick look around. Saltholme would have been very different back then. An ammunition store, which was part of an anti-aircraft gun battery protecting the important industries on the river Tees, still stands near to visitor centre and is today home to hibernating butterflies and nesting swallows.
The weekend will also explore what life was like for wildlife at Saltholme during one of the darkest periods in British history. As well as telling stories about people during the war, we're going to chart the lives of some of the reserve's favourite wildlife like lapwings, brown hares and skylarks since World War II. All of these wonderful creatures have declined since 1945, and we think that's because of the way that farming has changed. We hope that the event will show how the conservation work that we're doing today is helping to improve things for them.
This event is something very different for Saltholme. Thousands of visitors already enjoy getting closer to the reserve's wildlife, but we're keen to introduce them to its history and heritage too. We want to give visitors a feel for what Saltholme was like during the war, so we're appealing to anyone with experiences from Saltholme Farm or the surrounding area to get in touch.
If you have a story you'd like to share, or if you'd like to help out during the Saltholme at War weekend, email me at ben.calvert@rspb.org.uk or give me a ring on 01642 542075.
Bye for now,
Ben.