Out with the old, in with the new

An exciting new project is taking shape on one of the borough’s best loved nature reserves.

The construction of a brand new information centre began on Stanpit Marsh Local Nature Reserve in early December 2007 and will be completed this summer. It will replace the current dilapidated information caravan made from half a mobile home and bought for just £60 a quarter of a century ago.

The environmentally conscious circular timber framed building designed by White Design Architects is being built by construction firm Baron G Levine. The building is designed to be completely self sufficient and will feature locally sourced chestnut cladding, recycled newspaper insulation, a wind turbine, solar panels, rainwater harvester and compost loo.

The new information centre will serve Stanpit Marsh, a designated Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. The marshes are important for a range of internationally, nationally and regionally rare wildlife and popular place for local people to walk. It is estimated that the reserve receives over 100,000 visitors a year.

It is for these reasons that the council and its partners the Friends of Stanpit Marsh (FOSM) set about raising the funds needed for the new centre. Councillors enthused about the project ‘Christchurch Council and FOSM are pleased that together we have been able to find and raise the funds for this exciting new building. The centre will be an acknowledgment of the importance of the marsh and will help to raise greater awareness and understanding of the ecological value of this very special place’.

The council has financed most of the project but significant amounts have also been raised through an enthusiastic fund raising campaign organised by the Friends. Their Vice Chairman John Harding, always an enthusiastic supporter says “We were given the opportunity to work with the council on the design and completion of a high quality and environmentally conscious building that reflects the value and importance of Stanpit Marsh. We are now close to achieving our aim of creating a centre that will convey an overall atmosphere of great care and concern for the special nature of Stanpit Marsh.”

The new and permanent environmentally friendly building will be a welcome addition to the marsh. It will provide information and displays about the wildlife and will assist countryside staff, volunteer wardens and all the friends of the marsh in their efforts to look after the nature reserve.

Announcement of the Opening Date
Grand Official Opening of the new Stanpit Information Centre was at 11am on Saturday 20 September 2008.
More about the opening

The new Information Centre is open to the public every weekend during the winter 2008-2009.
A voluntary rota system has now been organised for manning the centre at weekends during the winter. If you would like to volunteer please contact Peter Holloway
It is hoped the interior display will be installed in early 2009.

 

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The Friends of Stanpit Marsh

The Marsh which is owned by Christchurch Council is a Site of Special Scientific  Interest (SSSI).   It attracts thousands of people a year and therefore requires very careful management, it was with this in mind that Pat Woodward and Peter Holloway decided to start a support group to arrange adequate funding to help to manage the Marsh.   A meeting took place in a local pub which rallied twenty supporters and The Friends of Stanpit Marsh was born.   This was in 1983 and now today our membership stands at well over four hundred.

Over these years we have raised a substantial amount of money with many regular events such as garden parties, bring and buy stalls, car boot sales, evening socials, coffee mornings, walks and quizzes.  This money has enabled us to help towards funding a Summer Warden which we always consider a priority, an informative display in the Information Centre and work that is needed to maintain a healthy Marsh.   But all these years there has been one firm objective, to have a really good Information Centre to replace the much used and rather tired caravan that we are using.  This objective has finally been achieved and we are now watching it being built with great delight.  It has been a long time coming but Christchurch Council finally agreed to finance the project and together with a very substantial donation from the Friends, work has commenced.

We will now have a centre that will inform and educate the large amount of visitors about the variety of wildlife that can be found on the Marsh, and we sincerely hope that they will respect and cherish their visits

We are very keen to encourage new members to our friendly association, please see the membership details with an application form  All members receive three newsletters a year.

The Friends are a very strong support group with a committee that holds regular meetings which involves a great amount of discussion about the welfare of the Marsh.  All of us have a great love of this area and take a very keen interest in the wellbeing, our aim is to continue with our fund raising as money will always be needed to help maintain the Marsh and our new Information Centre.