Notification of restricted access

 

Engineering works on the reserve and restrictions to access

From Monday 12^th July there will be some restrictions in place to access the southern end of the reserve. These will be in place for approximately three weeks to enable essential engineering works to take place at the southern end of south lagoon. A new water mains is being constructed under the river to connect with the water treatment works. Up to now the work has been taking place on the far side of the river to reduce any disturbance to wildlife habitat.

Baswick

In order to construct the new water mains a tunnel has been excavated which has been accessed by the building of a well shaft on the far side of the river. To complete the construction a new well shaft to the south of south lagoon will be drilled over the next few weeks. This requires a whole host of machinery that has to be moved onto the site and hence we need to make sure that visitors can pass safely in order to access the southern part of the reserve, an area south of the north lagoon and around the south end of south lagoon will therefore be out of bounds to visitors

Photos from the last tunneling scheme

The map highlights the areas that will not be accessible and the alternative gold route that can be used to reach the south marshes and Watton nature reserve. There will be no access along the boardwalk from north lagoon to O reservoir and no access to south lagoon hide. In order to get to the south marshes, visitors will be required to walk anti-clockwise around O reservoir. Please note that this route is not all hard standing, and the grass can be wet and slippery at times.

Restricted access and alternative routes to the south marshes

Prior to the commencement of the works the area was carefully prepared by the reserve teams before breeding season. Throughout the process the area has been subjected to intensive surveys by professional ecologists in order to minimise disturbance. All work has been suspended this weekend to ensure that a family of reed warblers nesting in the immediate area, fledge safely.

Once the construction work has been completed then we will be undertaking mitigation habitat works to offset any disturbance that has been caused to the habitat and we will create a permanent access track to the chamber lids.

As always at Tophill, the reserve will be enhanced by this habitat work despite the short term disturbance.

Thank you as always for your patience.

Margaret