Birdwatching hide News named in honour of lifelong enthusiast
KEN WAS DEDICATED ORNITHOLOGIST AND CONSERVATIONIST
A SAND martin bird hide, located in the reedbed nature reserve at Watermead Country Park, has been named in memory of a lifelong bird enthusiast.
Keen conservationist Ken Goodrich, pictured, who died in 2020, set up the Leicestershire Garden Watch survey long before the RSPB developed the idea nationally, and captured all the Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society (LROS) records digitally, which now total more than one million.
The bird hide was opened in a ceremony led by senior park ranger, Dale Osborne, and attended by Ken’s widow, Jean, as well as nature specialists from across Leicestershire.
Among those attending were representatives from (LROS – an organisation for which Ken held several roles and was later made honorary vicepresident.
Watermead Country Park is run by Leicestershire County Council in partnership with Leicester City Council.
It has played a fundamental role in creating a haven for wildlife with its wide range of wetland habitats including extensive reedbeds, wet woodland, wildflower meadows, rough grassland, open water and ponds.
County councillor Lee Breckon said: “We are delighted to name the sand martin hide after Ken Goodrich, who made such a positive and far-reaching contribution to conservation and who was committed to sharing the joy of nature with people.
“We hope that future generations will continue to be inspired by his passion for bird watching and encourage everyone to visit the sand martin hide to learn more.”
Sand martins are in the long list of globally threatened or declining species and are affected by factors including loss of suitable nesting banks or feeding sites.
Seeking to address some of these issues, Ken, of Birstall, was the driver and inspiration behind the building of the sand martin wall in 1993, located opposite the hide, with assistance from the Birstall Birdwatching Club, of which he was an early member.
Visitors to Watermead can find out more about sand martins and Ken’s work through a series of new information boards, funded by LROS, on display inside the hide.
People are also being invited to help collect species data during their visit by recording information about any sightings they may have.
This will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about sand martins and their interactions with the wall.
The Reedbed nature reserve is open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 3pm, and on Sundays from 9am to 1pm.
To find out more including how to get involved in the sand martin data collection project, visit: