Welcome to the new year at Steart Marshes!
An update on the latest at Steart Marshes including project work and species sightings.
We continue with exciting project work this year as we near the end of the Species Survival Fund and continue with our engagement work through NLHF Connecting Coastal Communities.
The cold weather across continental Europe has driven a large influx of white-fronted and tundra bean goose across the south of the UK. Steart saw the arrival of 7 Russian white-fronted geese on the 1st of Jan for a few of days out on Otterhampton Marsh. Short-eared owls have been spotted regularly hunting out on the reserve, particularly late afternoon on the common and around Steart gate carpark.
Unfortunately, we have had several incidents of people walking across non-public areas of the reserve to get closer to wildlife. We will continue to push the message that it is vital that visitors respect the habitat and park in allocated areas only.
WWT Steart Marshes Connecting Coastal Communities (CCC) Project: As part of our drive to develop new educational materials based around the superpowers of saltmarsh, we held a co-creation workshop on 8th January with secondary school teachers led by STEM Learning. A site tour and curriculum-based discussions furthered our understanding of classroom needs, which will influence the content of the online resources STEM will be writing.
The viewing platforms are open now on the Otterhampton loop and the far end of Stockland Marsh. Bird identification signs will be added once we have completed the design process.
Remember you know you can now book the Slinky Bus to Steart Marshes. Please let your friends and family know. Anyone can register to use the service, although only Somerset-issued bus passes can be used for discretionary travel. Sedgemoor South information sheet: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/.../slinky-digital-sedgemoor/
