I have been asked a number of times if 'we' are open this Easter weekend to visitors? On most occasions, people are referring to the Reserve at Rochdale, which previously permitted visitors to learn about looking after wild birds at certain times of the year with a short guided tour around some of the long-term resident birds, or those which could be seen from the roadside. This however ceased back in 2009/10, when Rochdale Council decided that after doing such for 41 years in the borough we would have to operate as a zoo in order to continue this educational line of work.

In 2010, we were thus forced to close down the hospitals at that site, and they were relocated to Wigton (where we have two further nature reserves), and we amalgamated our hospital facilities with those of Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue in order to enhance and update their facilities and permit them to help even more wild bird casualties which may then come their way. Other equipment was shared out, and provided both advanced medical, housing and ancilary care facilities to a number of other rescues/organisations based in Devon, Norfolk, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Cheshire. The resident birds were relocated to sanctuaries with the best faciities to look after them long-term, then the buildings and land where the aviaries once stood were sold off to further our sanctuary work on a new site. The 'Home Reserve' at Rochdale is still very much ongoing with it's work, and has a huge number of residents living within it.

In the years following 2010, we have established a network of nature reserves totalling eight in number, catering for numerous different species of birds and wild animals. Each reserve is different and we have brought in expert help from a variety of professional bodies to ensure continued and sustainable ecology and biodiversity throughout each reserve.

As a consequence of these factors, and in addition to the recent bird flu pandemic, none of the reserves are currently open to the public. We do have volunteer weekends on different sites at different parts of the years when we have projects underway, but these are not light work and are often physically demanding. Although the birds and wildlife will be all around you while you work; it is up to them as to whether they make themselves known, or stay out of the way. Often if I am working alone sone of the birds will come out to me, but if 'strangers' are on the reserves, we may see only a few birds/animals or nothing at all.

Although we have not had a case of bird flu on any of our sites, there have been outbreaks in local areas which have brought restrictions upon us and meant that movements of certain birds have had to cease for a defined period.

The goose featured in the photo accompanying this article was displaying symptoms similar to bird flu, and thus the finder was directed to contact DEFRA or the RSPCA for assistance, rather than taking it directly to a wildlife rescue.

Bird Flu map

Nigel