In Friesland, near Sneek in the village of Wommels, a unique project has been set up that can best be described in Friesian as Gruttoland - "it bêste Skriezelân fan d'ierde!". Together with the Agrarisch Natuurfonds Fryslân, farmer Murk Nijdam is building a unique project to ensure that his land will be a paradise for meadow birds in the future.
Having already made a contribution to this important project as a modest sponsor, on 1 May I paid my first visit to one of the two bird huts that have been realised there. And the official opening is still to take place later this year!
I was really amazed. A large pair of ruffs in the splendour of the mating season, little ringed plovers, redshanks, lapwings, common terns and many other species were to be admired.