The Martin Mere reserve will be expanded by 63 hectares following the purchase of additional land. This will be converted into a wetland habitat, including a 25 hectare reedbed to provide habitat for species such as Bittern and Bearded Tits. The remainder of the land will become seasonally flooded grassland to provide additional habitat for the wintering wildfowl that visit each winter. Our major fund raising project for 2003/4 was to sponsor the construction of the Friends Of Martin Mere Harrier Hide on this new land, and the hide was officially opened on 2nd February. The hide projects out into the reedbed providing a 360 degree panoramic view of the new and existing reserve. At the back of the hide a large pit was excavated and landscaped to resemble a Crannog - an ancient fort. The Crannog contains interpretation on the history of the Mere, artefacts dug from the peat and the formation of peat, as well as information on the animals and plants that the reserve hopes to attract. An extension to the existing Nature Trail leads visitors across and round the Crannog. During 2002 the main focus of our fund raising activities was to refurbish the lecture theatre with new seating, carpet, curtains and sound system. In 2001 we lost our chairman of 21 years, Captain John Howel, and everyone felt that it would be a fitting tribute to him to rename the theatre to The John Howel Theatre in his honour. 2000 saw us sponsoring the European Crane pen. Cranes are large, graceful birds and may live for 25-30 years in the wild. There are 15 different species of Crane, and of these 11 are vulnerable to extinction. The Crane family is widespread, existing on five of the seven continents, and for many Oriental countries they have a deep cultural and mythological significance. Cranes are often depicted as messengers for the gods, and according to myth their flight inspired the god Mercury to invent the Greek alphabet. Other items that the Friends have funded include the construction of a patio seating area, additional car park lighting, the Janet Kear Hide, Swan Link Hide, a burglar alarm for the duckery, ovens for the coffee shop and a video link which enables viewing of the wild swans and geese for less able bodied people.