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Minsmere Discover Nature Project
5 August 2011
Minsmere is already recognised as one of the RSPB's premier nature reserves for watching wildlife. Now, after five years of planning, we have received the funding to allow us to make major improvements to our visitor facilities.
The aims of the Minsmere Discover Nature Project are to create an inspirational visitor experience and broaden the reserve's appeal, thus increasing Minsmere's sustainability as a premier site for both people and wildlife.
What's going to happen?
The first phase of the project is already complete, with a resurfaced and expanded car park opened in April 2011.
Phase two will see the long-overdue replacement of Island Mere Hide with a new, fully accessible hide located further forward from the existing hide for improved views. This work will be done during October and November, during which time there will no access to Island Mere.
The main project centres on the visitor centre, a new learning area, and improved interpretation. There are several elements to this, beginning with a new reception/welcome area to make your arrival more welcoming. Once inside, the shop layout will be changed, the tearoom expanded to more than double its current capacity, and the toilets upgraded.
An exciting new discovery area is being developed where families and school groups can enjoy natural play and discover what makes Minsmere special. For example, they can become sand martins in our specially-constructed tunnels or discover what it's like for a bittern as it wanders through a reedbed to its nest.
This area will also include a purpose-built classroom for our expanded education programme, which will double as an exhibition/family activity room in school holidays.
The final element of the project is a major upgrade of our interpretation and an expanded events programme, aimed at making your visit to Minsmere even more enjoyable.
When's it going to happen?
The Minsmere Discover Nature Project begins in September 2011, and is scheduled for completion by Easter 2012. Minsmere remains open throughout this time. We will open a variety of seasonal viewpoints and trails during the winter to help visitors to see some of Minsmere's autumn and winter wildlife highlights, even when a few temporary closures apply.
Thanks to...
The RSPB would like to thank the following organisations for their support in helping to fund this project: the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF); Natura People, part financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the EU's Interreg IVA 2 Seas programme; East of England Development Agency; Waste Recycling Group through the Suffolk Environmental Trust; Essex & Suffolk Water; Suffolk Coastal District Council's Economic Development Support Fund; The Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Development Fund and additional funding from RSPB supporters and donors.
Want to know more?
For latest information on the Discover Nature Project, please read the Minsmere blogs and Forums on our Community pages, or get in touch.
For more information