RSPB HEAD OPENS HARPER ADAMS BIRD HIDE

Posted 10 July 2002

A BIRD HIDE established as part of countryside developments at Shropshire's university college was officially opened by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) last week.

Mr Andy Simpson, Head of Education at the RSPB, officially opened the bird hide, overlooking a large pond at Harper Adams University College's Newpool Plantation, on Monday, July 8, 2002.

The bird hide is just part of a series of developments being undertaken by Harper Adams on their 700+ acre estate. The aim is to improve the campus for visitors and introduce features that provide an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and outstanding natural splendour of the countryside.

Developments to date include the first phase of a countryside walk that will eventually encompass a range of tree species; bird hides in a number of different locations, information and interpretation boards detailing the sights, and a pond-dipping platform.

Mr Simpson was visiting the University College, the UK's largest specialist provider of Higher Education for the land and food-based industries, as a guest of honour to the 14th annual National Sixth Form Conference.

As well as cutting the ribbon to officially open the Bird Hide, Mr Simpson also delivered the speech that officially opened the conference. He addressed more than 250 students, aged 16 - 19, all of whom were attending the event.

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