Delight over new arrivals

A village nature reserve near Shrewsbury which has become a haven for birdwatchers since opening last summer has welcomed some rather hairier new arrivals.

Polemere, between Lea Cross and Yockleton, has marked its success with the arrival of Highland cattle last month, which have now had calves.

Borough councillor Tudor Bebb, who owns the land, is now considering running a charity competition to allow visitors to the reserve to name the new arrivals.

Councillor Bebb said the nature reserve had proven extremely popular with visitors since it opened in June and there were people in the bird hide most days.

But he said the arrival of the Highland cattle was a necessity to maintain the land.

He said: "When we opened the nature reserve the area around it needed grazing and so we've introduced the Highland cattle.

"We've got two cows and they've both calved now. They've only been up there for about a month.

"They seem to be very popular with the visitors. Everybody comments on them. We don't let them go down to the cattle, but they can see them from the hide."

He said he was interested to hear from any charity which might be interested in running a competition to name the new additions. The hide at Polemere is part of the Shropshire Hills Areas of Outstanding Beauty.

It allows people to get a close-up view of the lake, which the Environment Agency dredged last year.

The dredging was done in order to allow birds to make it their habitat and the site is valued for its role in breeding and as a stopping point for birds, especially waterfowl.

The site attracts large numbers of ducks and geese in winter and a range of waterbirds in the breeding season.

Mr Bebb said: "It will be 12 months in June that the hide has been open. We've had a lot of interest and there is someone in the hide most days."

The project aims to restore the site's value for birds and make it accessible to small schools and interest groups from the public.

One of the mothers with her calf at Polemere Nature Reserve, near Lea Cross.

One of the Highland Cattle calves.

Councillor Tudor Bebb with his cattle.

One of the calves at Polemere.

A mother with her Highland calf.