Simon King opens new hide on Brownsea Island

Simon King visited Dorset Wildlife Trust's nature reserve on Brownsea Island to formally open the new Macdonald Hide. The easily accessible hide, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has spectacular views over the lagoon on the National Trust-owned island, giving the closest views in Britain of nesting terns in summer and panoramic views of thousands of wading birds in autumn and winter. It is actually sited in the lagoon and is accessed by a causeway, built along with the first Macdonald Hide in 1986, in memory of 'Mac' Macdonald, the DWT volunteer who pioneered the tern islands.

What happened on the day?

Before Simon cut the ribbon to officially open the new hide, Dorset Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Simon Cripps thanked The Heritage Lottery Fund, The National Trust, The John Lewis Partnership and all the Dorset Wildlife Trust volunteers who work together for the benefit of the special wildlife on the island. Simon King, staff and volunteers celebrated the opening with some bird watching from the new hide, with its close views of thousands of wading birds.

The hide is dedicated to ‘Mac’ Macdonald, pioneer of the tern islands on the lagoon that were laboriously constructed during the 1960s and onwards. The original hide and causeway were completed in 1986.

Why is the hide on the lagoon so important?

At this time of year the lagoon is close to peak numbers of birds. Avocets and black-tailed godwits will be joined by hundreds of oystercatchers, curlews, grey plover and dunlin. On a high spring tide around the end of the year, there can be 10,000 wading birds to be making use of the lagoon for a few hours. When Brownsea was secured for the nation, by the National Trust, in 1962 there were barely half-a-dozen pairs of common terns nesting. Nearly 50 years later there are regularly over 450 pairs of 2 (and sometimes 3) species. All this despite the incredible modern pressures that Poole Harbour endures. This really is a conservation success story to be proud of.

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Notes to Editor

For more information please contact Nicky Hoar at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.
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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Dorset Wildlife Trust was founded in 1961 to protect the wildlife and natural habitats of the county and now has over 25,000 members and manages over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve.

The largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues. It leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.