10:39am Wednesday 2nd May 2007
WATER voles could make a welcome return along with birdlife thanks to a facelift at a wetlands centre.
Recent redevelopment at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's site in Washington, Wearside, has resulted in what is described as, "a diverse new wetlands vision".
In the £110,000 project, there have been changes to the ponds near the site's waterside cafe, as well as to the reservoir and some of the fenced-in collection areas.
They have been replaced by a stream, reed-bed, water vole habitat and a Close Encounters feeding area, bringing visitors close to rare and exotic water birds.
The centre's colony of pink Chilean flamingos will be moved to a new home as their old site is landscaped to create a wildflower meadow.
Botanist Professor David Bellamy opened the redeveloped site yesterday. Prof Bellamy, who lives near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said: "I have been coming here for a long time, and when I do, there is always something new to see.
"It is nice to see the old wildfowl park getting a facelift.
"It is fabulous. The lake was getting a bit dirty, but there is now a clean river meandering its way down, and I am sure there are an awful lot of happy birds out there enjoying it.
"There is a big reed bed on the old reservoir already attracting lots of a wild birds, while I am sure more and more migrating birds will come here to live."
Centre manager Chris Francis said water voles were common when he came to the site, 18 years ago, but said they have almost disappeared in the past few years.
He said the hope is that, as the site matures, it will once again host a vibrant vole colony
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