Press Release
24 July 2015
Walk on the wild side hailed as major success
Nature-lovers got a rare treat when they were able to take in the wildlife at Fiddler's Ferry nature reserve.
About 15 people attended the Hawks and Hawkers event, organised by the Mersey Gateway Project, which enabled wildlife enthusiasts to take a guided tour around the area, which is normally closed to the public.
They were able to spot rare and spectacular birds, including buzzards, hawks and peregrine falcons, as well as Hawker dragonflies.
Tour guide Jeff Clarke said the event had been timed to coincide with the peak period for dragonflies and damselflies. Fiddler's Ferry nature reserve has a wealth of ponds and water bodies that provide the perfect home for a number of these beautiful creatures.
However, the neighbouring power station is a well-known haunt of some great bird predators, too, so visitors got to glimpse a variety of spectacular wildlife.
Philip Antrobus, from Hough Green in Widnes, said: "Something completely different. Amazing and very enjoyable."
And David and Angela Barrow, from Widnes, said: "It was well organised and really enjoyable. Jeff Clarke was very knowledgeable."
All profits from the event will be donated to local environmental charities.
Hawks and Hawkers was one of three guided nature events organised by Merseylink and the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust that are taking place this summer.
They are designed to encourage nature-lovers to study wildlife along the Upper Mersey Estuary. A long-term aim of the Mersey Gateway project is to improve the local environment along the river.
Ends
Picture captions:
Pic one
Enthusiastic group:About 15 people attended the Hawks and Hawkers event at Fiddler's Ferry nature reserve.
Pic 2
Nature at its best:An example of the wildlife on show during the Hawks and Hawkers event at Fiddler's Ferry nature reserve.
Further information:
For further information, contact Karen Westcott or Chris Taylor at DTW on 01287 610404 / 07545 210067 / 07949 287356 or emailkaren@dtw.co.ukorchris@dtw.co.uk.
Editors Notes:
About the project
The Mersey Gateway Project will be one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in the UK over the coming years. The Mersey Gateway Project has been identified as one of the UK government's Top 40 priority projects in theNational Infrastructure Planand it has been recognised by KPMG as one ofthe‘Top 100 infrastructure projects around the globe'.
Its features will include:
a 1,000m long cable stay bridge consisting of four spans supported from three towers in the estuary;
a unique design where the 80m high central tower will be shorter than the two outer towers, which will be 110m (north tower) and 125m (south tower) ;
a total length (including the bridge and approach viaducts) of 2.13km;
a deck carrying six lanes of traffic (three in each direction) with a speed limit of 60mph;
up to 30 supporting piers carrying it across the approach viaducts; and
a curved approach at each end of the bridge giving varying views of its unique design and maximising its visual impact.
You can find out more about the project atwww.merseygateway.co.uk.
About the Merseylink consortium
The Merseylink Consortium was appointed by Halton Borough Council as the project company in 2014, on a 30-year contract to design, build, finance and operate the project.
Its equity partners are Macquarie Capital Group Limited, BBGI, and FCC Construcción. The construction joint venture is made up of Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Limited, Samsung C&T Corporation and FCC Construcción S.A.
Sanef S.A. will deliver and operate the tolling solution for the consortium.