Blake's Pools facts for kids
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Blake's Pools is a special place for wildlife in Somerset, South West England. It's a 4-hectare (about 10-acre) nature reserve located right next to the Congresbury Yeo river, close to where it meets the sea. The Environment Agency owns this land, and the Avon Wildlife Trust helps to look after it, making sure animals and plants can thrive here.
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Blake's Pools: A Wildlife Haven
Blake's Pools is a fantastic spot for nature lovers, especially those who enjoy watching birds. It's a protected area that plays a big role in helping many different species survive.
What are Blake's Pools?
Blake's Pools are made up of three different ponds. These ponds were created a while ago, between 1983 and 1987, specifically to attract more wildlife. Some of the pools have fresh water, while others have brackish water. Brackish water is a mix of fresh water from the river and salty water from the sea. This mix creates a unique habitat that many different plants and animals love.
Why are they Special?
Blake's Pools are not just any ponds; they are part of something much bigger and more important! They are connected to the Severn Estuary, which is a huge area where the River Severn meets the sea. Because of its importance for nature, Blake's Pools is part of several special protection zones:
- Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): This means it's a nationally important place for its plants, animals, or geology.
- Special Protection Area (SPA): This is a European-level protection for wild birds and their habitats.
- Ramsar site: This is an international agreement that protects important wetlands, especially for water birds.
These titles show just how valuable Blake's Pools are for wildlife, especially for the many birds that visit or live there.
Protecting the Pools
In 2001, a part of the sea wall that protected one of the outer pools broke. This allowed the sea to flow in, creating a new tidal lagoon. A tidal lagoon is a pool that fills up with water when the tide comes in and empties when the tide goes out. To help manage the water levels in the other two shallower pools, special gates called sluice gates were put in. These gates help control how much water goes in and out. Also, reeds have been planted around the largest pool. Reeds are tall grasses that grow in wet areas and provide great hiding spots and food for birds.
Amazing Birds You Can See
Blake's Pools is a birdwatcher's paradise! Over 100 different types of birds have been seen visiting this reserve. Many birds even choose to build their nests here, like the common shelduck, common redshank, and northern lapwing.
When the tide is low, large areas of mud are uncovered. These muddy areas are perfect feeding grounds for birds such as the little grebe and the little egret. The two shallower pools are popular with wading birds, especially the green sandpiper and the common sandpiper.
In the colder winter months, many different kinds of wildfowl come to feed at the site. These include birds like the smew, greater scaup, black-necked grebe, and dunlin. It's a busy place all year round!
