VISITORS of all ages enjoyed a big splash birthday bash at Blashford Lakes on Saturday to mark the tenth anniversary of the nature reserve created among the reclaimed gravel pits of the Avon Valley near Ringwood.

Since its opening by wildlife celebrity David Bellamy in the summer of 1996 the 500-acre site has blossomed under the management of Hampshire Wildlife Trust to create a safe habitat for a vast variety of insect, bird and animal species.

With its newly-completed network of easy access paths around the lakes, the expanded Blashford centre now offers an educational and recreational amenity for school-children, families, nature lovers, walkers and joggers.

To celebrate the anniversary and officially open the reserve to the public, a wide variety of events, displays and activities were held on Saturday by Hampshire Wildlife Trust, landowners Wessex Water and Bournemouth & West Hants Company, New Forest District Council and lake user groups including watersports and fishing clubs.

Creepy crawlies Youngsters armed with nets and magnifying glasses enjoyed pond-dipping under the tutelage of wildlife experts to capture and identify some of the creepy crawlies to be found in the water, while older visitors appreciated the history of the site from prehistoric archaeology unearthed by gravel digging to an array of vintage farm equipment.

Blashford Lakes education officer Jim Day said: "Four years ago our neighbours just down the road would not have known we were here and over half the reserve was still being quarried for sand and gravel.

"Now you can walk by a river, view birds and dragonflies over the lakes from one of several wildlife hides, relax in the shade and tranquillity of the woodland and do it all within a short walk."