Bird hide to be unveiled at Neumann’s Flash in memory of bird watcher

The hide has been created at the end of the spit on Neumann’s Flash, which was a favourite viewing spot for Pete, from Comberbach.

The building has been called Pod’s Hide after the nickname Pete was known by.

“Just before Christmas we heard the sad news of the death of local birdwatcher Pete Antrobus,” said Friends group chairman Alan Redley.

“More than £1,200 had been collected in donations, which his wife Debbie gave to FoAM to be put towards a project in memory of Pete.

“As a result an ambitious community project to build Pod’s Hide was born.”

Pete was a member of FoAM, and a number of his colleagues joined members of FoAM to help build the hide.

“Preparation for the construction of the hide began in January, with clearance work to create a new path,” said Alan.

“In places the ground was rock hard, and in other places stone was required to build the path up above the water level.

“A big thank you to Tata Chemicals, which donated 25 tonnes of stone to help with the project.

“On two days Howard Fearn and several other of Pete’s colleagues from Avian Ecology joined in help with the project.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council leader Samantha Dixon and deputy leader Louise Gittins joined group members for a morning’s volunteering in January.

They helped to remove tree roots from the new path which has been created for the hide.

WT Gibson of Kingsley Mill has donated bird food for the feeders at Budworth Mere and Big Wood for several years.

“Adrian Gibson has generously agreed to continue this support for another year,” said Alan.

“We are extremely grateful for these donations.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council is funding new signs for the Northwich Woodlands, which will be sited near the picnic area by the cabins at Marbury Park.

Volunteer John Ryder has been busy using wood off-cuts to create bird tables. People can see one of his tables near the picnic area by the cabins at Marbury.