OVER the past ten years through the sheer hard work of dedicated volunteers and help from the wider community, the Barling Magna Wildlife Reserve has become a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.

Volunteer and parish councillor Ivy Knight has spoken to the Echo about how the reserve, in Mucking Hall Road, Barling, has grown over the years to become the rural attraction it is today.

Over the years the reserve has become a great place to explore nature and go for walks- and is particularly popular among dog walkers and bird watchers.

The project began in 2005 when Barling Magna Parish Council purchased the land.

Mrs Knight said: “As a parish councillor with a background of agriculture and nature I took great interest in the project and it has to some extent taken over my life ever since 2005.

“Plans were drawn up to turn it into a wildlife park but cash reserves were low, so it could not be made ready for the public until 2008 when it was officially opened, although it was only just the tip of the iceberg with much of the ground still covered by weeds and rambling vegetation.

“We were lucky enough to raise considerable financial support from the Cory Trust and the Community Initiative Awards.

“This enabled us to reduce the top vegetation to a manageable height, have a proper footpath created and put a perimeter fence around the whole site to make it people and dog friendly.”

Much later on Mrs Knight applied to the Environment Agency, the Woodland Trust and various other organisations and managed to receive donations of almost 600 small trees and bushes, which were then planted in hundreds of pots and placed in a “nursery” to grow.

She added: “We also organised and planted 2,000 native wild flowers over one damp and chilly Easter with parents and their children all planting themt randomly over the meadow

“Earlier we had purchased, through fundraising, three bench seats and a picnic table and subsequently as the park opened its gates officially in July 2008 we were ready for business.

“As a team we laid a raised deck area to use as a covered seating area which is in use all the time.”

Three years ago, with the assistance of schoolchildren, the reserve planted a Wood of Rowan tree and silver birches to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee.

Mrs Knight said: “We added two bird stations made from dead trees which provide constant interest and entertainment for birdwatchers, children and less energetic people who enjoy sitting and watching the varied birdlife visiting the bird stations.

“In the last year we were delighted to discover that previously empty owl nesting boxes, donated by the RSPB, have now been adopted by the barn owls who had only migrated to the farm next door.

“All the animal habitat sites created from dead trees are now in full use with rodents, adders, stoats and a myriad of ground animals , including hundreds of rabbits that all inhabit the site, with the suburban foxes looking wonderful on their natural diet rather than household scraps.”

The reserve has won the Green Flag Award many times and won the Rochford District Council Design and Heritage Award 2008.

Mrs Knight added: “Our tree nursery, some of which had been no more than sticks in tiny pots, are, after three or more years, now abundant.

“They will finally find their place to grow and thrive for the future generations and we shall have a wildlife reserve and community space to last the generations to come, thanks to the dedication, respect and encouragement of so many.”