In Morden hall park a superb boardwalk and viewing platforms have recently been built meandering along the wetland area where reeds and reedmace (bulrushes) are established.

A most attractive feature of great educational value consists of a series of metal plates embossed with illustrations and descriptions of creatures we might encounter within the pools and among foliage.

As spring unfolds we can look forward to a range of damselflies and dragonfly species that have emerged from the wetlands or possibly flown in from elsewhere to breed.

The first to appear will be the large red damselfly in May followed by our largest insect the emperor dragonfly plus others throughout the summer including the migrant hawker (pictured).

Frogs and maybe toads will spawn plus newts. Bird life will be interesting. Herons stalk prey in the margins and hopefully, the stands of common reeds if extensive enough will tempt the scarce reed warbler to nest.

Spending the winter in tropical and southern Africa, reed warblers (little brown jobs) return to Britain in April. They are very secretive keeping hidden among the reeds but advertise their presence by keeping up a continuous repetitive chuckling song.

Reed warblers are the favourite host for cuckoos to lay but the latter are sadly seldom seen or heard nowadays

The National Trust is to be congratulated for creating a valuable attractive habitat to be enjoyed by both wildlife and visitors to the park.