Building work on a replacement hide at a wildlife centre near Porthmadog is underway.

The new hide will improve viewing facilities for the thousands of people who visit Glaslyn Wildlife centre every year.

A public appeal launched last August to raise money to help to replace the ageing hide at Pont Croesor reached its £35,000 target at the end of December. The wildlife centre, which operates as a charity, said then that the project would cost around £70,000 and the public appeal target would be half of that.

“Every pound will count and go some way to ensure visitors gain a better experience and enjoy seeing the full extent of the fantastic wildlife in the beautiful Glaslyn Valley,” a charity spokesperson said then.

It is hoped work to complete the hide will be complete in time for the return of the ospreys this spring.

Thousands of people visit the site to see ospreys and other wildlife, and the hide will give them clear views of the Glaslyn osprey nest, home to Mrs G and her partner Aran.

Mrs G has been breeding there for 18 years. During that time 41 chicks of her chicks have fledged and at least six are known have returned to breed successfully in the UK.

The new hide will also be an excellent vantage point for the nearby Pont Croesor nest where another pair of ospreys successfully bred for the first time last year.

The visitor centre at Pont Croesor will be open to the public between March and September.

Chairman of the trustees, Gwyn Harrison, said: “We are busy preparing for the new season and looking forward to our ospreys’ safe return.

“The response from our supporters to the hide appeal has been fantastic and the replacement facility will help us build on our success as one of the major wildlife attractions in North Wales.

“During last season over 19 different ospreys, including Mrs G and Aran were sighted on or around the nest and in the Valley. The return of breeding ospreys here and in other parts of North and Mid Wales is a great conservation success story.”

Glaslyn Ospreys relies on volunteers to help with the day-to-day operation of the site.

Anyone interested should visit www.glaslynwildlife.co.uk/volunteering.