Insh Marsh Reserve.

A bit of a nostalgia trip today.  For 4 or 5 years in the early 70s I spent a number of weeks as a volunteer on this reserve.  It was only in its early stages and most of our work was habitat improvement, vegetation and bird surveys with some infra structure maintenance.

Apologies for the following rant.

I couldn't be in the area without stopping to see how the place had developed.  Habitat much improved as for the rest it sort of confirms my views of the RSP (was at one time B) but now should probably be N (for nature).  In my opinion the RSPB has lost its way.  When I volunteered it was focussed on bird.  Yes we knew habitat improvement aided all the biodiversity not least  by improving the feeding opportunities for the birds.  Now they seem to be trying "to be all things to all men".

A couple of examples:  At the Lomond reserve no hides, picnic tables, expensive carved seats and a pond dipping area on the only pond habitat so no chance of undisturbed birds.  Insh was a little better with 2 hides they claim 3 but the map shows 2.  Billed as "one of Britain's finest wetlands" the hides only see the wetland from a distance.  Two trails one 1.5 K and one 4.5 K so that is a lot of reserve being disturbed, to cap it all a picnic area well out away from anywhere else so more disruption.

The blip shows the "Lookout" not a hide by any stretch of the imagination.  As you can see the front is a sea of glass (which birds can see through).  To make matters worse there was a open air viewing platform on top so if somebody decided to go up those inside could forget birds!   The building is built round (extra expense) just to, in my opinion be trendy.  Money which would be much better spent on the wildlife.

I include the shot as it illustrates for me the changes in the habitat.  Most of them I must admit for the better.  The open water lagoons are a definite plus nost of the area was a sea of rush and course grass in the 70s.

Rant Over.