CONSERVATIONISTS at Arrow Valley Country-side Centre are celebrating a rise in the number of an eye-catching species of bird.

Workers at the centre have seen a marked increase in the population of great crested grebes nesting at the lake in the last year.

Centre spokesman Nick Martin said: "Despite being present each year since the lake's creation, the grebes have only managed one successful brood of young in 2003.

"This year was a different story though, with three separate pairs nesting on the lake.

"Despite all the odds all three pairs successfully raised broods of two or three young to maturity and one pair has even gone on to hatch out a second brood this month."

Mr Martin said the grebes, which boast a brightly coloured crest, have the odds stacked against them when it comes to breeding.

The popular wetland species builds stick platforms to incubate their eggs above water, which are easily destroyed by coots and fish.

However, thanks to a scheme of reed planting around the edges of the lake to help protect the nests, breeding has become more successful.

One of the lake supervisors, Adrian Collinwood, added: "After years of failure, we are delighted with the grebes success this year.

"By planting reeds and other wetland plants around the edges and corners of the lake, we hoped to encourage more wildlife and are certainly seeing the effects.

"With more marginal plants the pressure for nesting sites for water birds and spawning areas for fish is lessened and I am sure that this has been the deciding factor this year in helping the grebes succeed."

In the last year, the lake has also recorded an increase in the number of reed and sedge warblers, herons, coots and moorhens.

The great crested grebe's small cousin, known as the dabchick, has also been sighted.

For more details, visit the Battens Drive centre or call 464000.