Reserve draws crowds despite frosty weather (From Salisbury Journal)

Reserve draws crowds despite frosty weather

10:45am Friday 16th January 2009 in Rural Focus By Therasa Paul

THE recent cold, frosty weather has not kept visitors away from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust reserve near Ringwood - in fact the Christmas period saw the reserve at its busiest as people worked off some of their festive excesses, blew away some of the cobwebs and enjoyed some of Hampshire’s wonderful wildlife.

Blashford’s Education Officer, Jim Day, said: “The cold weather actually means some more unusual wildlife is easier to see. With natural food sources depleted and thin on the ground in the cooler wintery weather, woodland birds are flocking to the bird feeders around the centre.” Feathered attractions have included goldfinch, siskin, brambling and lesser redpoll along with assorted tits, woodpeckers and very friendly robins.

Jim added: “The diminutive firecrest is another sought after bird which can be seen in the woodland area at the moment.

“The secretive bittern is back, lurking in the reeds fringing Ivy Lake where the occasional water rail may also be observed darting from cover to cover.”

Elsewhere on the lakes, visitors can expect to see the usual wide variety of wildfowl, the great white egret and black necked grebes.

The centre and reserve are open every day from 9am to 4.30pm, and are well worth a visit at this time of year, if wrapped up warm. For more information, visit www.hwt.org.uk.