News archive
July 2006
Thursday, 6 July 2006
Havergate Adventure 2006
Havergate Island, owned by the RSPB, is situated in the middle of the Ore Estuary to the south of Orford, Suffolk. It comprises six lagoons surrounded by saltmarshes and mudflats.
It was here that in 1947 avocets bred for the first time in Britain for 100 years. Avocets are still present, as are many species of wildfowl and wading birds. Spoonbills are often present along with little egrets, a species which has become widely established during the past decade, and there is always the chance of seeing a marsh harrier, another bird that faced extinction in Britain in the early seventies.
So what could be more relaxing than to take a 20 minute boat trip to the Island, visit three of the hides accompanied by a guide, and take advantage of the refreshments available?
The Havergate Adventure runs from Saturday 19th August to Tuesday 22nd August, 2006. Boats leave Orford Quay every half hour from 10.00am until 2.30pm. Following the boat ride one has 2 hours on the Island with a guide to assist with identification and information. Binoculars are available on free loan and refreshment may be purchased on the Island. The whole trip takes 2 hours 40 minutes.
Tickets cost £6.00 per person (£3.00 for under 16s) and may be booked on the Quay at Orford from 19th August. Alternatively places may be booked in advance by telephoning 01728 723155 on or after Tuesday, 1st August. This event has proved very popular over the years (in 2004 all 480 tickets were sold) and thus early booking is recommended.
How to get there:
Orford is located 11 miles north-east of Woodbridge. From the A12 take the A1152 and where this bears left at Bromeswell carry straight on the B1084 to Orford.