RSPB Saltholme celebrates its millionth visitor!

A flagship Northeast nature reserve has celebrated a historic achievement – welcoming its millionth visitor since opening fifteen years ago.

Award-winning RSPB Saltholme in Stockton-on-Tees was the product of a vision to create a showcase project that would rejuvenate the landscape and rekindle the connection between people and nature.

Since its launch in 2009 it has evolved into a vibrant wildlife sanctuary teeming with life and today RSPB Saltholme is a haven for thousands of birds, including the elusive and threatened Bittern, Britain’s loudest bird, whose successful breeding in 2022 marked a pivotal moment in conservation efforts on Teesside. 

The nature reserve has continued to evolve and last year a bespoke new children’s playground was added alongside a new dragonfly boardwalk, funded by the Teesside Environmental Trust.

Melody King, aged 13, from County Durham, who was the millionth visitor, was presented with a bird feeder as well as an RSPB ‘silhouette’ nest box, made from sustainable timber for garden birds such as blue tits, house sparrows and grey tits to roost and nest alongside a plentiful supply of bird seed. 

Visiting with her parents and family, Barry King, her father, said, “We have loved our visit here and it’s a place we will return to again and again.  

“We can enjoy family time here away from the distractions of mobile phones and the chance to see rare birds up close has been brilliant.

“We’re delighted to be part of this milestone and grateful for the conservation efforts that make this nature reserve such a special place.  Melody is going to really enjoy watching the birds nesting once the box goes up in our garden.” 

In its first year RSPB Saltholme welcomed around 70,000 visitors, hailed as a huge achievement and a demonstration of the need for places where people can connect more with nature.  Today visitors come not just from the local area but from right across the UK.

Chris Francis, senior site manager at the reserve, said: “I’ve been with the reserve since 2018 and it has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated conservation team and with more than 100 volunteers.   “Welcoming our 1 millionth visitor is an incredible achievement and we’re delighted our visitors love this place as much as we do.

“Whether you have a curiosity about nature, have a keen interest in bird watching or simply want to relax and walk one of the many trails here and have some family fun, visitors will find so much to enjoy.

“Despite the successes though, we are still facing a nature and climate emergency and we need to do even more in the next 15 years to support the recovery of nature and wildlife.”The multi-million-pound glass-fronted state-of-the-art eco-visitor centre houses a café and gift shop and trails lead across the thousand-acre site to visitor hides.

Key milestones since opening include:

• RSPB Saltholme was designed for endangered bittern to breed, and this was finally achieved in 2022 – a significant conservation milestone.
• RSPB Saltholme has also become an established breeding site for lapwing, avocet, and common tern.
• Over 40,000 school pupils have been welcomed since opening in 2009.
• RSPB Saltholme is a triple Visit England Gold Award Winner, winning in 2017, 2021 and 2022 and also a winner of the coveted VisitEngland Welcome Award in 2023

 VisitEngland CEO Patricia Yates, said: “The Northeast has so much to offer visitors and with its reputation for a friendly welcome it’s not surprising RSPB Saltholme has won so many awards. We congratulate the whole team for the fantastic job it is doing, connecting people with nature, providing memorable experiences for both domestic and international visitors and boosting visits to the region, supporting the local economy.”  

David Kitchen, Chair of Teesside Environmental Trust (TET), added: “Since 1998 we have had a clear vision and motivation to create a nature reserve of international importance on the land we own at Saltholme.  “After granting a long lease to the RSPB in 2007 to utilise their skills and expertise in habitat creation, and providing funding to the RSPB, we look forward to further supporting Saltholme and the RSPB in increasing visitor numbers and the educational programmes on offer.” 

Visitors can also join RSPB Saltholme in celebrating its 15th birthday party on April 6th, when it will be celebrating 15 years of creating wild spaces for nature.

For more information on visiting RSPB Saltholme, visit www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/saltholme.