RSPB Fairburn Ings and RSPB St Aidan’s
@RSPBAireValley
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The official Twitter account for #RSPBFairburnIngs and #RSPBStAidans . Giving nature a home in West Yorkshire's Aire Valley. Photo: Karen Speight
Joined May 2011
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Amazing shot of a kestrel taking LRP at
#staidans
@RSPBbirders
@BirdGuides
@SwillyBirder
@JFDIecologist
@BBCSpringwatch
@RSPB_N_England
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140
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#kestrelcam
is getting exciting!
The male had some freshly caught prey, but was sat with it rather than tucking in.
The female arrives and he gives it to her straight away - sharing is caring!
He doesn’t look too chuffed though..
@ChrisGPackham
@BBCSpringwatch
5
51
279
Have you seen we've announced our Birding for Beginners walks for 2020? 😍😱
These guided walks are perfect for helping you improve your birding knowledge, or even for getting started 🦆
To book
#FairburnIngs
:
To book
#StAidans
:
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210
What a treat! A sneak peek at brand new kestrel cam coming soon the the St Aidan’s visitor centre. The pair had 4 chicks in the dragline last year - she’s quite settled so here’s hoping for another good year!
@BBCSpringwatch
5
51
213
Today we can confirm we have THREE spoonbill nests at
#FairburnIngs
with at least FIVE young between them! Come and see our little teaspoons for yourself. Pop into the centre for advice. Photo: Steve Smith
#StAidans
#FairburnBirds
@RSPB_N_England
#conservation
#Yorkshire
#Leeds
3
47
202
Gavin, our Community Engagement Officer, caught this blue tit bathing during his
#BigGardenBirdWatch
this morning! Birds need to drink and bathe, so leaving out a water source is a great way to encourage them to your garden or windowsill 🐦
7
22
185
Very exciting! Fairburn has the first spoonbills to breed on an RSPB reserve (pic Andy F)
@nybirdnews
@BirdGuides
8
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170
Brill photo of 3x spoonbill juveniles at Fairburn - thanks to Andy Francis. The word is getting out and we're a proud team!
@Natures_Voice
2
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150
Last year at
#StAidans
we had 10 pairs of black-necked grebes, up to 25% of the UK breeding population! These stunners love to nest among black headed gulls for protection from predators
#springwatch
(Image: Bob Howe)
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Our warden team at
#StAidans
have been awarded the coveted Golden Welly!
This internal RSPB award recognises the site with highest wader productivity (number of chicks per nest).
2 years of hard work by the team have paid off with a stonking 187% increase in breeding lapwing!
10
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2
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Thrilled to share that the elegant spoonbills have made their summer return to
#RSPBFairburnIngs
! 🦩
This week marked the first sightings on the reserve, adding a touch of grace to our natural haven.
📷|Karen Speight
#sightings
#spoonbill
#nature
#reserve
4
17
118
The hobby at
#FairburnIngs
has been hunting dragonflies around the visitor centre for past 3 days! If you're lucky you'll catch a glimpse!
1
20
106
Spoonbill Update
#FairburnIngs
5 individuals, 1 confirmed nest on The Moat. Currently incubating eggs. By mid June we should have some clumsy chicks/teaspoons!
New access view point for people to safely and respectfully see the nest is in progress. Stay tuned!
(Img Ginny Sibley)
8
16
94
This week's Thursday brain teaser is a bit trickier
But we'd like to know what the collective noun is for a group of long tailed tits (and it's not a flock!)
Let us know your guesses below 👇 have you seen any 'lotis' at our
#AireValley
sites?
📸 Karen Speight
@Natures_Voice
14
4
89
4 successfully fledged teaspoons! We've loved having the spoonbill viewpoint so thank you everyone who has been to visit.
The spoonbills can be best viewed from Lin Dike and the Coal Tips so the new viewpoint is now closed. Thank you!
Image: Andy Wilcock
2
23
92
This curious bittern was snapped giving our predator fence at
#StAidans
a good inspection
Our camera traps, as well as fencing, have been helping keep foxes out of our wet grassland to help increase wading bird numbers on site
What a massive treat to see a bittern close up!
3
6
92
#StAidans
fulfilling its role as part of the
#RiverAire
Flood Alleviation Scheme. Water is stored on site until river levels drop and then the water is released back into the river. This is why floodplains are so important.
#AireValley
6
28
92
First spoonbill has hatched! Feeding is visible from the new viewpoint 🐣
1
12
89
We'll be hosting
@ChrisGPackham
UK Bioblitz 2018 - nature reserves are not enough! at
#Fairburnings
19 July to show how much
#WeWantWildlife
show your support at the event on the day and donate to the campaign here:
Thanks
@pennydixie
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87
We've had a common buzzard with a twist at
#StAidans
recently. A 'pale morph' buzzard has been spotted on site, looking particularly intense in this great picture
#WildlifeWednesday
Have you managed to see it?
📷 Stephen Cribbin
@RSPBEngland
@Natures_Voice
5
8
82
We are very excited at RSPBStAidans by this artic skua our rangers spotted this morning
Artic skua are usually coastal birds so it is quite unusual to spot one here!
It is probably traveling coast to coast and has stopped at St Aidan's to rest.
📷Karen Speight
2
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81
Willow tits are sadly in decline across the UK, but our work at Fairburn Ings supports a resident population. One of our volunteers captured these beautiful shots earlier this week! Have you managed to spot any recently?
📷 Alan Coe
8
9
79
The new spoonbill viewpoint is open at Fairburn! This is an area not normally open to the public and gives views of the nest from a safe distance - binoculars are recommended. It will be accessible 9am - 5pm. (Image: Marie Foster)
1
23
75
Happy Birthday to us! Today marks four years since St Aidan's first opened to the public 🥳 🎂
Our birthday looks a bit different this year, but the site has changed a lot over time too! Thanks to all the visitors, volunteers & staff who continue to support this amazing place 💚
1
11
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Let's test your birding knowledge with a mystery guest.
Can you tell us what species of bird is pictured here, eyeing up some yummy berries? 🤔🍓🍇
Share your guesses below ⬇️
📸 Alan Coe
@Natures_Voice
@RSPBEngland
43
5
74
So excited - Gillian and the team from Springwatch are already on site getting ready for tonight’s live broadcast from Fairburnings - be sure to tune in at 8;00 pm to BBC Springwatch
#Springwatch
BBC Springwatch
#Fairburnings
@WakeExpress
@Yorkshire
Evening Post
@LeedsNews
4
27
69
Over the past week or so, bitterns have been heard booming - and spotted among the reeds! - at both Fairburn Ings and St Aidan's 😀 Listen out for their distinctive call if you're heading out for a walk at either site!
📷Karen Speight (archive)
0
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Catch us on Countryfile tonight @ 6:15pm on BBC 1 - Matt Baker will be chatting to our Youth Volunteers
@Natures_Voice
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This beautiful shot was captured by one of our volunteers yesterday! Lapwings - with their distinctive "peewit" call - have been a real success story at St Aidan's, where the hard work of our wardens has resulted in a huge increase in breeding populations 🐣
📷 Stephen Cribbin
4
10
66
Great news! A spoonbill has arrived at Fairburn Ings. Could this be the second year of breeding? We're excited to find out.
It's on The Moat at the moment, best seen on the Coal Tips trail. Follow the heronry blackboards up / ask at the centre for details.
Img: Marie Foster
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Spoonbill chick spotted this morning flying back to nest! See from Coal Tips trail/Lin Dike. Photo
@FairburnBirder1
@Natures_Voice
0
11
63
Our wardens have been as busy as ever behind the scenes recently, monitoring and maintaining our sites. A highlight for the
#FairburnIngs
team has been a harvest mouse survey - 50 of these gorgeous, delicate nests have been found on the reserve!
📷 Rachael Tulloch
1
4
62
#kescam
kestrel eggs are hatching! The mother is eating the left over egg (full of calcium and keeps the nest tidy) and first chick is safely tucked underneath. Excited!
@BBCSpringwatch
1
16
60
The
#RSPBFairburnIngs
warden team captured incredible footage of a fox on the reserve using our wildlife camera! 🦊
Stay tuned for more glimpses into the wild at Fairburn Ings! 🍃
📷|Mark Blamire
#NaturePreservation
#Conservation
#WardenWednesday
#WildlifeCapture
#FoxOnCamera
2
4
60
3X COMMON CRANES have just flown over Fairburn Ings visitor centre!
@thecraneproject
#givenatureahome
1
15
60
We think this female kestrel has very much got that
#FridayFeeling
! 🥂 🎉
All she'd need is a little tankard held in those deadly talons and this kestrel is ready to celebrate the weekend!
Have you snapped any
#wildlife
in very human poses?
📷 Brian Hughes
1
10
58
Our
#volunteer
ranger got this incredible shot of a noctule
#bat
at
#StAidans
on Sunday! The creature was feeding around 2pm when most bats are going into hibernation around this cold time of year.
📸
@AlanCoe10
@RSPBEngland
#FairburnIngs
#Yorkshire
@_BCT_
0
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Exciting news today. x3 Black Necked Grebe chicks seen
@RSPBAireValley
St. Aidan’s in the reedbeds. This is the first brood spotted this year. Fingers crossed that we see a few more over the next few weeks. Photo taken by John Sargent.
#staidans
#blackneckedgrebes
0
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This week the reedbeds at
#RSPBStAidans
has been abuzz with bearded tits!😍
They've been
#spotted
from Bowers Lake and the Causeway- with over 7 being seen at the same time.
📷|Barry Carter
#sightings
#birding
0
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We've dedicated a blog to St. Aidan's worst kept secret, breeding black necked grebes.
Image:
@FairburnBirder1
0
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We've been reminiscing in the
#AireValley
about the fantastic male bearded tit we had showing on our Bowers Bimble path this time last year!
#Throwback
Did you manage to snap this show off?
📷 Dave Ward, Barry Carter
@Natures_Voice
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6
56
At this time of year the skies at our
#AireValley
sites are something else- as you can see in this fantastic picture of
#StAidans
😍
What are your favourite pictures of our sites that you've taken this year?
📸 Rosie Dutton
@Natures_Voice
@RSPBEngland
6
3
54
Secret's out.. St. Aidan's is home to 1/4 of UK's breeding black-necked grebes. They are less elusive at the start of the season, so now is the best time to see them in all their glory. Ask at the visitor centre for directions, but please keep your distance. Img Mick Noble – SIBG
4
18
56
Lots of dusk barn owl sightings at
#Fairburn
lately. Redshale road and the Riverbank trail are the place to be!
1
14
54
Massive thanks to Gillian and the whole
@BBCSpringwatch
team, we've loved having you! Don't forget to tune in to watch our neighbours
@RSPB_OldMoor
tomorrow night
#springwatch
1
18
52
This picture might look like a scene from a Star Wars film but it's
#StAidans
!
Sunsets are fantastic in the
#AireValley
at the moment if you need some
#MondayMotivation
to get out into nature this week.
Share your pictures of spectacular Autumn skies below 👇
📸 Tom Harman
2
4
51
This is no
#AprilFoolsDay
joke!
Ever wondered who would win in a fight between a pheasant and a weasel? 🤔
We can now reveal the answer, as this video shows a tussel over an entire fatball!
#WildlifeWednesdays
Video credit: Dawn B
1
11
53
It's July (somehow!) and time for our first
#WildlifeWednesday
of the month.
This week's snap is a perfect moment between two sand martins, seemingly deep in conversation.
But what would you caption this charming photo?
📷 Alan Coe
@Natures_Voice
12
9
52
The high water levels at
#StAidans
haven't put off the wildlife, with some great birds being seen.
But the star of the show yesterday was this secretive bittern!
Have you been lucky enough to spot a bittern at either of our
#AireValley
sites?
📷 Karen Speight
@Natures_Voice
1
9
50
On this day in 2017, RSPB
#StAidans
Nature Park officially opened! 🥳
Huge thanks to all those who keep this amazing site running for both wildlife and people.
Share your favourite memory of St Aidan's from the past 3 years below!
📷 Aerial-Nathaniel Dargue, VC- Richard Amende
13
9
52
We're extra excited for
#Springwatch
this year!
Make sure you tune in to the full series...
#FairburnIngs
and
#StAidans
are featured this year. Eek!
@BBCSpringwatch
@Natures_Voice
(Image credit Alan Coe)
0
19
54
We've been sent these impressive aerial pictures of
#StAidans
during
#flooding
and before.
They show the extent of the water and also highlight the importance of this site and
#FairburnIngs
in protecting nearby houses from flooding!
@Natures_Voice
📷 Nathaniel Dargue
0
12
53
The wonderful wetlands of the Aire Valley were once coal mines, but these former industrial sites are now home to wildfowl like wintering gadwall and shovelers - and around 1/4 of the British breeding population of black-necked grebes! Happy
#WorldWetlandsDay
🦆
📷Anthony McHugh
0
8
52
The beardies are still wowing at St Aidan's!
Our warden teams at both sites have been installing wigwams in the reedbeds to give these birds somewhere safe to nest above the water.
Bird photo: Peter Williams.
#StAidans
#FairburnIngs
#conservation
#warden
#wardenwednesdays
0
7
51
As we watch the final Aire Valley sunset of 2020, and take a moment to reflect on this challenging and unexpected year, we want to thank all of our visitors, volunteers & colleagues for their support. Whatever 2021 brings, let's keep making connections with nature!
📷 Jen Sharp
2
1
51
We've been working hard this week (in all weathers!) to clean and prepare the sand martin wall at St Aidan's. These summer visitors usually arrive in late March, so we're making sure it's ready for them to burrow and nest!
#WardenWednesday
📷 Janine Brown-Jones/John Ingham
2
3
50
We're honoured - and excited! - to say that St Aidan's has been shortlisted twice in the annual Birdguides Birders’ Choice Awards 🥳 We're up for Rarity of the Year and Site of the Year!
For more details and to cast your vote, click here:
📷 John Ingham
0
4
52
It's been a cracking year for the Aire Valley - from spoonbill chicks to bitterns, to binbags full, we've done our best to really give nature a home at both sites. We couldn't have done it without all our volunteers though, old and new. Happy New Year! Img: Teaspoons-
@smfoster11
2
12
49
While our sites (inc. car parks) remain closed its been great seeing local people using the Public Rights of Way. Please can I remind people to take litter home, not light fires and keep dogs under control. Many are finding
#SolaceInNature
lets take care of it!
pic Joe Seymour
3
16
50
Please practice social distancing when out on site, for your own health and that of others around you
Please also follow the countryside code, keep to paths and ensure dogs are kept under effective control at all times to avoid disturbing nesting wildlife (pictured)
📸KarenSp8
3
14
51
Our lovely ranger at Fairburn Ings,
@smfoster11
is featured today on
@Natures_Voice
instagram! perfect winter shot and perfect words too.
#feelingfestive
0
7
49
We have bearded tits showing well again from our Bowers Lake path at
#StAidans
. Fantastic to see these beautiful birds up close
#WednesdayMotivation
Photo credit: Andy Hay
1
9
48
A second Fairburn Ings kingfisher gone! Sparrowhawk thinks he's on to a good thing.. eek.. (image peter Bembridge)
11
15
48
It's Yorkshire Day today! Why not celebrate by visiting one of our brilliant Yorkshire reserves and experiencing the county's wonderful wildlife - happy Yorkshire Day!
@RSPB_OldMoor
@Bempton_Cliffs
@Blacktoft_Sands
📷 Brian Hughes, Karen Speight
0
3
47
After the breeding season finishes we drop the water levels at St Aidan's, exposing lots of lovely mud to attract migrating waders - we also cut back vegetation to broaden the feeding areas and to open up the views for visitors
#WardenWednesday
📷J Ingham/A Tiffany
2
4
49
As our Warden teams finish up for Christmas (and for 2021!), John has been reflecting on a very unusual year at St Aidan's - for some of his highlights, lowlights and reflections, check out our latest blog:
2
8
49
Thanks to everyone who came and helped on our Community Litter Pick this morning - we had a busy time clearing areas along the Linesway and Lowther area of the park. Disappointingly we picked up nearly 200 bags of dog poo! Please respect the park and take it home or bin it.
3
8
48
Following latest government advice we have made the difficult decision to close our visitor centres as of 19/3/20.
We're keeping our trails, toilets and car park open and waiving car parking charges so people can enjoy our sites at no cost.
From the
#AireValley
team
0
18
48
The red kite is a local success story and we've had fantastic sightings of them at
#StAidans
this week.
Red kites were once threatened with extinction so don't take them for granted if you often see them!
We'd love to see your pictures of red kites near you.
📸 Alan Coe
7
5
46
Bit of a raptor fest at St. Aidan’s just now.... at least 5 Hobbies, Red Kite being harassed by a Kestrel, Marsh Harrier quartering the wet grassland and a Buzzard over the car park. Peregrine flew through quickly aswell.
#birdsofprey
#StAidansBirds
#30SIBG
#swillyings
1
11
44
We are sad to report a break-in at
#FairburnIngs
on Saturday, losing laptops, a TV and damage to property.
Our charity's money goes towards caring for our sites and this event robs both the charity and wildlife.
Anyone with info should contact the police (crime no. 13190662864)
4
75
45
Spoonbill in the lagoon on Main Lake just now at
#StAidans
! Thanks to
#volunteer
Steve
@LS26Birder
for the sighting and this lovely photo!
#FairburnBirds
#Leeds
#AireValley
@RSPB_N_England
0
9
45
Despite some very slight changes in lockdown restrictions, the reserve remains closed to the public for now. Our priority is to ensure that we only re-open when we have everything in place to keep our members, visitors, volunteers and employees safe. Check here for updates.
2
16
45
The last few weeks have been busy ones at St Aidan's, not least thanks to the unexpected arrival of a long-toed stint! Our Warden, John, has written a blog reflecting on the experience - click here to read more:
📷 Dave Ward
2
6
45
A lovely black-necked grebe family at
#StAidan
's to start your
#SaturdayMorning
with. The UK currently hosts only around 54 breeding pairs. Ask in the visitor centre for advice on where to view them in the
#AireValley
Photo: Stephen Cribbin.
@RSPBbirders
@RSPB_N_England
0
6
44
Lots of goldcrest have been spotted around Fairburn Ings this week.They are the UK's smallest bird and their thin beak is ideally suited for picking insects out from between pine needles :)
2
10
40
**Exciting news** - work for the St Aidan's play area will start tomorrow!
Natural features will include sand pools, swamps, tree bridges, den areas and nests.
We are aiming for it to be open for play by the summer holidays.
Who's excited?! 🌳🐦🌿🐜💦
#AireValley
@RSPB_N_England
10
12
43
Happy Birthday St. Aidan's! It's been 1 year today since we opened St Aidan's as an RSPB nature park. We've had a lot to celebrate this year and hope to make many more improvements for wildlife & people. Thank you to all the staff, volunteers and visitors who helped this happen.
1
10
44
We'd like to say a big thank you to the lovely people who cleared up the litter on site at
#StAidans
after yesterday's good weather. It's a real shame it was necessary but it's very much appreciated.
Have a lovely weekend all.
1
2
43
We've got a dose of cute for you to help with those back-to-work blues- a beautiful great crested grebe with chicks!
Grebe chicks often ride on their parents backs when young for extra protection.
How sweet. Have you snapped any pictures of birds with young?
📷 Alan Coe
7
10
41
We've had a very photogenic kingfisher spotted at
#StAidans
today!
Along with short-eared owls, marsh harrier and bearded tit, we've had a great cast of
#wildlife
on site so why not head down to the
#AireValley
tomorrow and see what you can spot!
📸: Greg Wills
1
6
37
Up to 12 spoonbills at Fairburn now, the 4 chicks are still visible from the spoonbill viewpoint. Won't be long before they fledge though!
One has popped over to St Aidan's for the weekend too!
Image - Christine B - Community page
0
11
42
Please help us keep our endangered ground-nesting birds and their young safe at
#StAidans
and
#FairburnIngs
by keeping your four-legged friends on leads. They can enjoy off-lead time on the recreational area by the centre at St Aidan's. Thanks for helping 🐣
#Leeds
#AireValley
3
18
40
All four kestrel chicks at
#StAidans
have fledged this week - well worth keeping your out around the dragline!
2
8
41
The warden team at
#StAidans
have created a new accessible path from the visitor centre down to Bowers Lake 🚜🔨
This path has a gentler slope, making it ideal for those using a wheelchair, our mobility scooter and other less mobile visitors.
Come and try it for yourself!
3
12
41
This
#TranquilTuesday
we've got a cracker for you!
Today's lovely picture features a beautiful avocet and chick enjoying the sunrise at
#FairburnIngs
. We can feel the tranquillity from here!
What's your favourite
#sunrise
shot? 💚🌅
@Natures_Voice
📷 Alan Coe
0
2
37
Our warden team have been busy installing multi-use tern perches on Lemonroyd Lake this week.
The perches will create a vantage point that our terns (and other bird life) can fish from. They also have brash piles underneath that will provide shelter for young fish. Fin-tastic!
3
9
39
The great white egret is still hanging out around Bowers Lake at St Aidan's - the local herons aren't too chuffed there's a taller bird in town!
0
6
41
We've had reports of our first peacock butterfly in the
#AireValley
With daffodils blooming and trees turning green, it's a welcome reminder that Spring is on the way!
Have you seen any butterflies near you yet?
@Natures_Voice
📷 Jenny Tweedie
7
8
40
If you're coming to
#StAidans
to see short-eared owls we ask that you keep to the paths
Straying off path not only ruins the experience for those who are keeping a respectful distance but also importantly disturbs the wildlife.
Thank you.
@RSPB_N_England
@SwillyIngsBG
2
10
40
Another star species has arrived in the Aire Valley! ⭐️ We've had spoonbills reported on Spoonbill Flash and the Moat at Fairburn Ings. What a fantastic February it's been!
Photo credit: Dave Ward
3
7
39
There's no better job than that of an RSPB
#warden
at this time of year.
Here's Matt and Andrew doing a butterfly survey on the Hillside at
#StAidans
. They found 11 species and 565 meadow browns! 📸: Helen Melvin
#WildlifeWednesday
@RSPB_N_England
@savebutterflies
#conservation
0
10
40
Bearded tits have been spotted on the duck feeding platform at Fairburn Ings this week, they can be heard with their unique 'pinging' noise!
2
9
40
This Ringed Plover seems to have taken a fancy to the recently re-opened path around Bowers Lake at St. Aidan’s.
#staidans
#youshallnotpass
2
10
38
These cheeky Little owls have been spotted hopping about the dragline at St Aidan's!
1
12
38
#FairburnIngs
has been recovering from recent floods, with our great wardens and reserve assistants starting the process of putting the reserve to rights
This repair work will be ongoing so we hope you'll join us in sharing our appreciation for their hard graft 🙌
📷 Rachael T
0
5
40
We've got a bit of a brain teaser for you.
Can you name this beautiful bird of prey snapped on the cattle fence at St Aidan's?
But more importantly, have any of you been lucky enough to spot one at our Aire Valley sites?
📷: Greg Wills
17
6
38