Restored lagoon attracts new life this spring
A great crested grebe has been visiting WWT Arundel Wetland Centre since late March. In past years one great crested grebe may come into the reserve for one or two days in spring but this year a pair arrived after Storm Katie hit Sussex at Easter and the male has stayed on the Arun Riverlife are of the reserve. The female is shyer and moves on and off the site but the male seems to love the Arun Riverlife lagoon. This spring has also seen the first breeding success for lapwing on Arun Riverlife area. Two broods of lapwing chicks have been spotted. These small waders have been breeding elsewhere on site and are now including Arun Riverlife as a nesting ground.
Paul Stevens Grounds Manager at Arundel Wetland Centre said "Lapwing and great crested grebes were two of the target species that the area was created to attract".
Made up of wet fen, wet grassland, shingle islands and reedbeds the restored lagoon has been attracting new species each year since its completion in 2013. Wildlife surveys by Arundel Wetland Centre wardens show that water voles have also made homes in the banks of Arun Riverlife, being absent there before the restoration.
The Arun Riverlife project was generously supported by grants from Biffa Awards and the South Downs National Park Authority. The project restored the main lagoon in front of the visitor centre to a natural wetland in keeping with the Arun River floodplain and water meadows that once characterised the region. This major undertaking involved removing trees to open up views, improve flight-lines and reduce perching opportunities for predators. The lake was drained, hundreds of fish and eels were relocated, and tonnes of silt were excavated. A new water control structure was installed and the area was extensively landscaped and re-planted.
The best part is visitors to Arundel Wetland Centre can see wildlife on Arun Riverlife easily, rain or shine, as the habitat is directly in front of the windows of the Water’s Edge cafe. Visitors to Arundel Wetland Centre this May and June can also see the LEGO Brick Animal Trail, made up of nine models of wetland wildlife some 12x larger than life.
