RSPB Minsmere celebrates redevelopment

It took six months to rebuild the Minsmere visitor centre

A special event is being held at a Suffolk nature reserve to celebrate the end of a £2m development project.

The RSPB coastal reserve at Minsmere has a revamped visitor's centre, larger cafe and reception area and a new toilet block, which opened in March.

Its Discovery Centre and Wild Zone activity area opened a month later.

The redevelopment is part of the Discover Nature Project, with money coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a European Union programme.

Saturday's gathering is being held to thank the funders of the project, as well as its consultants and contractors.

Invited guests were given the chance to look around the new facilities.

Ian Barthorp, from the RSPB at Minsmere, said development had already proved popular.

"It was really, really nice during the school summer holidays in August to see the crowds of families and the excitement and the kids enjoying themselves at Minsmere," he said.