Nature Features

Radford Park in Plymstock was chosen for a visit from BBC Radio Devon's Springwatch Action Team, or SWAT squad.

On Saturday 7 June 2008, a team of volunteers descended on the site to give it an environmentally friendly make-over.

Hundreds of people of all ages turned up to carry out the work in a mixture of warm sunshine, heavy showers and even thunder!

The task in hand was to transform the site from an eyesore to nature reserve.

An old hut was turned into a bird hide; children provided artwork; carpenters made steps and hand rails; and everyone mucked in with mulch!

The hut was transformed into a bird hide

The site is next to Radford Arboretum, near Hooe Lake and the River Plym.

Radford Park is a historic site. It was once home to Sir Christopher Harris; Sir Francis Drake had a boathouse there; and Sir Walter Raleigh was a visitor.

During WWII, it was used to store fuel for the RAF.

New houses have been built next to the area and as part of that deal the developers handed over the cleaned up site to Plymouth City Council, complete with a pond and a building which can be used as a classroom and hide.

It was one of three spots in Devon bidding for a SWAT.

The others were at The Pollyfield Centre in East-the-Water and Youngs Park in Goodrington.

All three sites were featured in BBC Radio Devon's breakfast programme and an expert panel decided which was most suitable for the Springwatch spring clean.

The SWAT judges

The members of the panel were Devon's own TV environmentalist Johnny Kingdom; Kate Hewett - youth project manager for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV); and Rod Birtles, who is marketing manager for Devon Wildlife Trust.

There was also an invaluable written contribution from the RSPB.

Kate Hewett from BTCV said: "A lot of the work that was proposed would have disturbed wildlife which we couldn't do at this time of year, which is one reason we've gone for Radford Park.

"There, we can work on the education and interpretation centre and really make a difference on the one day, which ultimately is what we want - a fundamental difference within a short time."

Rod Birtles from Devon Wildlife Trust also commended the Plymstock bid: "We chose Radford Park because the local community clearly have a good idea what they want to do with it, and the site is going to be used by visitors and schools.

"There's a lot that might be done in the future on the site, with plenty of potential. But it was a difficult decision."   

North Devon's Johnny Kingdom agreed that it was a tough choice: "I always try and look after North Devon, but the other site has been chosen.

"The Plymstock site needs a lot doing -  a tidying up job really and we'll make a big improvement there. But don't worry, we can try and come back to East-the-Water and Goodrington later."