THE new shop, cafe and wildlife garden at Arne Nature Reserve is on target to open mid-March, the RSPB has confirmed.

Volunteers are now needed to help run the new facility, which has been constructed on the site of the old toy museum at the RSPB Arne Nature Reserve.

RSPB Dorset spokesman Claire Young said: "We’re really excited to announce that our brand new shop, cafe and wildlife garden are taking shape and the building work is nearing completion. We are aiming to open in mid-March, so pencil a visit in your diaries for the Easter Holidays.

"We are now seeking a team of special volunteers who can help us make these new facilities a huge success.

"We want to build up a thriving, dynamic team of people to welcome our lovely visitors, help them to have a great experience and encourage them to come back time and time again."

Claire says you don’t need any special skills to help, just enthusiasm, a friendly smile and a willingness to learn.

The new shop, which will be operated to generate income for the RSPB, has been designed very much with the local wildlife in mind - entrances for bats have been built in the structure of the shop as well as a large loft space for them to roost.

Bee bricks have also been used in the patio wall, which will provide more habitats for solitary bees.

There will also a green space next to the main building, which the RSPB will be converting into a wildlife garden with funding awarded to them by The Veolia Environmental Trust.

The garden will attract a variety of wildlife to the site and will also be used to showcase to visitors how they can give nature a home in their own gardens too, Claire explained. It is also hoped the local community will use the space to meet-up socially.

Claire said: "We are creating an outdoors wild play area for children to enjoy and a large, sloping lawn for family picnics or even for rolling down - definitely one for the adults.

"We’re looking for volunteer cafe assistants, retail assistants and wildlife gardeners."

Contact Dorset.Volunteering@rspb.org.uk or call 01929 555983.