Thriving nature reserve near Stretham all began with a lake
Kingfishers Bridge was "almost exclusively a birder reserve" until the Covid-19 pandemic, with visitor numbers rising from about 2,000 in 2019 to 21,000 in 2023.It now has a car park, a cafe, a visitor centre and a shop, as well as offering regular visitor tours of its rare habitats.Mr Green said: "About 50 years ago, I realised that [to make] a wetland conservancy, it had to be with plenty of water to make it work, and so I made a lake – this followed with animals and birds using it every day."He praised manager James Moss for expanding and developing the habitats after the farm officially became a nature reserve."[He] gradually found the right places on land and water, leading to a wonderful nature reserve for which he had an extraordinary ability for managing," Mr Green said.
"a massive increase" in its breeding population of lapwings, a farmland wading bird which is on a list of endangered species.It has also seen a vast increase in the vulnerable water germander, from 12 plants in 1996 to seven million today, and it was the first place in Cambridgeshire to successfully breed bitterns since the 1930s.
The data comes from RSPB, BTO & Environment Agency surveys, said Mr Moss.Kingfishers Bridge also has herds of water buffalo and konik ponies, which help manage the habitat.It has organised an open weekend of events to mark its 30-year milestone, including guided tours, talks, performances by local musicians and food from local vendors.
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