An ongoing conservation project that is aimed at creating a more prosperous habitat for local wildlife has now been completed.

The Charleton Marsh Project has now finished its last stage by creating an area of open water which is hoped to attract birds such as kingfishers and water rails, as well as dragonflies and water beetles.

A resident of West Charleton, Rory Saunders, drive his excavator down the marsh and made “short work” of digging out the reeds and silt which were “choking the channel”. This was the last piece of a three-pronged programme of improvements to the marsh, which is classified as a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ (SSSI).

An overgrown hedge was laid in January, and some extra shrubs planted to “increase variety”, and in July, the steps and boardwalk leading to the well-used hide at the estuary end of the marsh replaced, and now the channel has been opened up.

Chris Klee, from Kingsbridge Natural History Society which initiated and raised funds for the project, said: “Wildlife will benefit form the increase in habitat types made available and people will have more to see form the hide, so this has been a good win-win project.”

He also thanked the Devon Birds Charity, Charleton Parish Council and the Kingsbridge branch of Jewson, “who all helped to fund the work”, as well as landowner Paul Rogers who “allowed the improvements to be made”.

For more information about wildlife in the Kingsbridge area, visit www.knhs.org.uk.