We are proud to provide a sustainable, affordable, clean and safe water supply and to manage and treat the waste water returned to us in a way that protects the environment.
22/04/2010
A team of staff from Essex & Suffolk Water joined RSPB wardens and volunteers at RSPB Minsmere nature reserve yesterday to help protect rare stone-curlews from disturbance.
The ten volunteers from Essex & Suffolk Water spent the day working on Minsmere’s arable reversion fields, where they built brash fences to screen the adjacent footpath, improving conditions for sensitive wildlife.
RSPB Warden, Katy Smith, who organised the day, said, “Most of the species found on these areas of acid grassland are very sensitive. By building these brash fences, birds such as stone-curlews and woodlarks will be less likely to be disturbed by people walking along the nearby footpaths.
“We hope that work carried out by the Essex & Suffolk Water team will encourage more stone-curlews to nest at Minsmere, helping to further increase populations of this unusual nocturnal bird.”
James Muir, Customer Manager for Essex & Suffolk Water, said: “We had a fantastic day. We are all proud that our efforts will help preserve these important and rare birds. The company has a great employee volunteering initiative called Just an hour, which enables us to help in the community and local environment like this.”
The members of the work party also signed the RSPB’s Letter to the Future, adding their voices to the 170 000 people who have already signed the letter, which calls on the incoming government to secure the future for the UK’s wildlife.
A photo of the Essex & Suffolk Water team taking a well-earned break with some of the RSPB volunteers is attached.
Ian Barthorpe, RSPB Marketing and Publicity Officer, Suffolk Coast 01728 648081
1. The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no 207076, Scotland no SC037654.
2. RSPB Minsmere is open daily. The visitor centre opens from 9 am to 5 pm. The RSPB Shop is open 10 am to 5 pm. The tearoom is open 10 am to 4.30 pm. Entry to the visitor centre is free. There is a charge for non-members to use the nature trails and birdwatching hides.
3. To sign the RSPB’s Letter to the Future, go to www.rspb.org.uk/signtheletter.