GC12B0C North Slob Pump House (Traditional Cache) in Leinster, Ireland created by Bootle

This cache has been archived.

Bootle: I am unable to maintain this at present so I will archive. Thanks to all who visited!

GC12B0C ▼

A cache by Bootle Message this owner

Hidden : 4/19/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Throughout the nineteenth century many attempts were made to reclaim land from the sea to the north and south of Wexford harbour. There were many failures, most notably that of the Thomas Brothers, who poured £30,000 into reclaiming 800 acres in 1814. However a high tide allowed the sea to regain its former limit. In 1847, John Redmond, began to oversee the reclamation of the north side of the harbour. Work dragged on for 3 years, but by 1849 the North Slob had been won back from the sea. Over the next two years the entire area was ploughed into ridges and laid out in parallelograms of 50 - 100 acres by canals and drains. This conducted the water to the principle outlet where sluices and a pumping engine would discharge it. The land was soon successfully being cultivated.

This cache is located close to the Pump House. Beside the pump house is Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, Ireland's premier wildfowl reserve, covering 550 acres. The Wexford Slobs and Harbour are, by their very nature, immensely attractive to wildfowl and waders and are internationally famous for the wintering flock of 8,000 Greenland White-fronted Geese and the wintering flocks of Brent Geese, Wigeon and Bar-tailed Godwits. A further five species of duck and ten species of wader are also recorded in nationally important numbers during the winter. To date in excess of 260 species have now been recorded in the locality. The attraction of the site is not just for the wide diversity of species but more for the shear quantities of birds present through the winter.

The reserve is well worth a visit, even to the casual "twitcher". There's a fun information section, several hides to watch the birds from and, best of all, an observation tower with a couple of telescopes! Admission is free and its open every day. Pop in while you are there!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Pbeare

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)