Chain reaction

Over the last few years, however, a nature centre and trail has been set up at Heysham and many school parties as well as individual visitors are welcomed.

The natural trails have recently been extended and this week I was invited to open the new enterprise.

There I met the warden Tom Wilmer and together we explored the host of flowers which show that what was once an industrial site has been taken over by nature.

The bricks and mortar have been landscaped but the lime they contain has allowed plants which normally grow on limestone to thrive. Two delightful species are the rock rose and especially the bee orchid.

The latter does indeed look like a bee and when the males and females land on the flower to investigate a potential mate they become dusted with pollen and the orchid can continue its life cycle.

Tom told me that recent research has shown that the orchids even have a "bee-like" smell.

Part of the the nature trail passes alongside an observation tower which overlooks the power station and Heysham Docks.

Below is the 25-acre nature trail set in a valley which has a variety of habitats including trees, wet boggy areas and landscaped ponds.

Apart from the car park which serves the Nuclear Power Station Visitors Centre, the Nature Centre also has its own car park which is also open daily and is free of charge.

The reserve has a bird observatory which is jointly administered by the power station and the Lancashire Trust for Nature Conservation.

The bird sightings are impressive and in 1995 a little bird called Pallas's Warbler was seen in the autumn and was only the third recorded in Lancashire.

There is a ringing station focused on the reserve and individuals are always welcomed on their own while guided visits can be arranged by telephoning the Heysham Nuclear Power Station Visitors Centre on 01524 855624.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.