Will long-term partnership with Mexican company help Dartford Warblers to set up home at RSPB's HQ reserve?

                                                             

RSPB is optimistic about the expanding reserve at its Bedfordshire HQ  

HOPES have been sounded that Dartford Warblers might become established at the reserve surrounding the RSPB's HQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire.

At present, the species is only an occasional visitor, but the society's new board chairman, Sir Andrew Cahn, believes that "one day it might actually colonise."

The reason for his optimism is that the  reserve is expanding by taking on spent-out sections of the neighbouring Sandy Heath quarry from the UK subsidiary of Cemex, a  Mexican-owned multinational company with interests in cement, concrete and other building products.

                                  

Dartford Warbler -  heathland specialist  

This week is the 15th anniversary of the partnership between the RSPB and Cemex UK.

Says Sir Andrew: "The nature reserve is doing really well.

"It continues to grow, and I am pleased to say that we will be there for the foreseeable future. 

"We have a long-term agreement with Cemex where we take on management of sections of the neighbouring quarry site as the company finishes with them. 

"All told it’s going to be the largest heathland restoration in the South-east."

Continues the chairman: "There have been breeding Nightjar in recent years and  the odd Dartford Warbler appearing (hopefully one day actually colonising)."

He adds: "The introduction of ponies for some of the year has helped with heathland maintenance."