Press Release

THE CROWN ESTATE BACKS FIRST MARINE STEWARDSHIP FUND PROJECT IN NORTHERN IRELAND

19 October 2005

The Crown Estate has backed a drive at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's (WWT) Castle Espie centre for improved educational materials and infrastructure.

Situated on the banks of Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, the Castle Espie centre is a haven for birds, and during the winter hosts internationally significant numbers of migrating Light Bellied Brent Geese. The centre runs a very successful education programme focusing on wildfowl and specifically the Brent Geese. The Crown Estate has supported WWT through the Marine Stewardship Fund to produce a mural in a bird hide overlooking the lough which identifies the key birds present over the year. A major revamp of the 'Pond Room' was also sponsored – this is an education building which has benefited from new carpeting, lighting, seating and tables, a video projector system plus a wetland mural.

Emma Meredith, Learning Manager for the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to see the support of the public and the interest that many people have in the birds on our shoreline. We feel very privileged to have received this funding from The Crown Estate to make our educational facilities even better for local schools, community groups, special needs children, keen bird watchers, church groups, families and many more people who visit WWT Castle Espie wetlands centre on a regular basis to support our work. The staff and volunteers at Castle Espie would like to thank The Crown Estate for their support and generosity.”

This project was instigated in 2004 and represents The Crown Estate's first Marine Stewardship Fund project in Northern Ireland. It adds to the growing number of schemes we have helped fund around the UK since 1999. We seek to involve local communities in practical schemes which both add to the development of best practice and make a significant contribution to the environmental management and stewardship of the marine estate.

The Light Bellied Brent geese are arguably Strangford’s most important species but they are not the only birds that migrate to Strangford Lough in the winter months. Others include Whooper swans and Black tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Wigeon, Greenshank, Knot, Shelduck, Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, and even Little Egrets.

Follow the link for further information about Castle Espie and Brent Geese.