New habitat for rare bird

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, which owns the nature reserve, hopes to boost the population of the songbird, whose numbers halved between 1970 and 1998 .

Head of reserves Dave Turner said: "We are digging a series of scrapes up to two-feet deep that will provide a source of shallow water and wetland plants near the newly-built visitor centre.

"The water will attract a wealth of insect life in the summer, while the plants will offer a good variety of seeds, all of which will help the reed bunting.

"They will also be great for attracting winter birds, such as snipe, jack snipe, green sandpipers and other waders."

The trust says that the reed bunting's struggle to survive is partly explained by the deterioration of wetland habitats across the country.

The loss of small ponds, unsympathetic river engineering and the encroachment of scrub into damp areas all contribute.

Water for Wildlife project officer Jo Sayers said the new wetland area should allow the bird to thrive.

"Wetland areas are naturally important places for wildlife," she said.

"They provide security, as birds are less likely to be predated than on dry land.

"Reed buntings, which are a Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan species, nest near the ground, which means the chicks are easy prey."

At least two ponds will be created at the farm and pond dipping platforms will allow visitors to get up close with dragonflies and damselflies.

Mr Turner is also hoping the great crested newt - also a BAP species - will take to the new development.

Lower Moor Farm was bought by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in November 2005, thanks to a grant of £681,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A new visitor complex is being created at the reserve to allow the charity to open it fully to the public this summer.

Numbers halved and the species has been placed in the highest conservation category priority by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.