HLF has awarded the project more than £33,000 to further develop plans at the nature reserve between Bridlington and Filey, which will allow the RSPB to apply for a full grant in the future.

The charity’s vision is that the internationally-important seabird reserve – which is the most accessible in the whole of Britain – will be a year-round nature tourism destination and will play a key part in the economic regeneration of the Yorkshire coast.

Plans include the extension of the existing visitor centre into the seabird centre, with dedicated space for learning opportunities for both local communities and visitors. The project will also see the development of teams of live interpreters, seabird researchers and a team of volunteers.

Keith Clarkson, the RSPB’s area manager for the East Coast, said: “The seabird colony at RSPB Bempton Cliffs is one of the truly unmissable British wildlife spectacles. Already around 65,000 visitors every year marvel at this amazing experience. By improving facilities for visitors, we want to make those visits even more memorable.

“And we also want to encourage people from all walks of life to experience the splendour that is England’s largest seabird colony. We know that people from all over the world come to Bempton Cliffs but we also want to attract people from just around the corner to pay us a visit as well”.

“This wonderful support from HLF gives us the funding we need to take our next steps towards achieving our dream,” he added.

Fiona Spiers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We look forward in due course to receiving the full application for this project that aims to protect the seabird colony at Bempton Cliffs while giving more people the opportunity to marvel at and learn more about it.”

Notes to editors

*A first-round pass means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.

On occasion, an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.

Further information

HLF Press Office
Vicky Wilford, 020 7591 6046 / 07968 129 241 or email vickyw@hlf.org.uk. Phil Cooper, 020 7591 6033 / 07889 949 173 or email phillipc@hlf.org.uk.

RSPB
Regional Reserves Communications Manager, Margaret Overend, 07793 902 590