Visit to Caelaverock  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve

Cllr John Martin & I visited here on Friday 31st October and received a warm welcome. We arrived at 2pm just in time for the whooper swan feeding session and though there werent many swans that day. we saw lots of tufted ducks and other ducks and wildlife being fed.

We then went on a tour with Steve who took us out to the turf covered hide nearer The Solway from which we saw a peregrine falcon. Of course we also saw many thousands of over wintering barnacle geese. I hope to go back in December to join a group to watch their dawn flight which will be a real thrill.

This is a wonderful resource for research and for schools as well as visoting bird experts and family outings. There is also a very good cafe in the Visitors'Centre.

Cllr Martin is keen to help in any way he can to support the work of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, it being in his Council Ward.  

As a student I volunteered on an RSPB site in Yorkshire called Bridlington Head and spent time counting fulmer ckicks and painting fences over part of a very sunny summer. If I get to Westminster, I am determined  to help ensuring that wildlife is adequately protected and that farmers are compensated for the use of their land for conservation purposes when the barnacles come in and feed.