A NATURE reserve covered by 3ft of water during the 2007 floods has welcomed the return of rare birds.

The future of Coombe Hill Nature Reserve, near Tewkesbury, looked bleak after the floods left the area covered in a brown slime.

But bosses at the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust now say oystercatchers have been spotted breeding there for the first time and six pairs of lapwing chicks have also been seen.

The charity's chief executive, Dr Gordon McGlone, said: "In 2007, species such as lapwing, curlew, redshank and reed bunting had their chicks washed away.

"To find that they have returned to breed once more, following our clean up work, is really fantastic news."

The Coombe Hill Reserve was plunged under water after the lake and canal overflowed due to the heavy rain and brown slime was left covering the land.

Shrubs and hedges were left withered and dying, while the lake, once teeming with life, turned to sludge.

The trust was able to carry out repair work after a public appeal raised £120,0000. It had initially set a clean-up operation target of £30,000 but people were so generous that four times as much money was raised.

Grundon Waste Management Limited, which operates the landfill site at nearby Wingmoor Farm, has also made a huge contribution to the development of the reserve by donating £250,000 over the last 10 years.

Managing director Richard Skehens said: "We are delighted that everyone's hard work has paid off and that both oystercatcher and lapwing are now breeding on the newly created wetland. We look forward to sharing further successes with the trust."

Trust officials say attraction the new wildlife is a great result, not just following the floods but also because 10 years ago, the nature reserve was just a wheat field.

Dr McGlone added: "Conservation success like this wouldn't be possible without financial contribution from Grundon, whose continuing support will ensure further wildlife successes on this nationally important wetland."

Oystercatchers are rare in Gloucestershire as they are associated with the coast, but re-creation of scrapes, ditches and areas of permanent standing water have provided a suitable wetland habitat for them.