Corporate report

Lincolnshire's National Nature Reserves

Updated 18 September 2023

Applies to England

Bardney Limewoods

A group of small woods in Lincolnshire, the largest of which is Chambers Farm Wood.

Main habitats: woodland

Area: 384 hectares

Management: Forestry Commission

Features of interest

The woods are the most important examples of small-leaved lime woodland in Britain. They cover a wide range of soil and drainage conditions, resulting in a varied ground flora and range of different tree and shrub communities.

There is a visitor centre and butterfly garden in Chambers Farm Wood. The nearest toilets are in the visitor centre and there is a picnic area nearby.

There is a marked trail through Chambers Farm Wood together with paths offering wheelchair access.

There are interpretation panels, and leaflets are available on-site.

Directions

The majority of the woods are 1 to 3 kilometres south of the A158 on either side of the B1202 between the towns of Bardney and Wragby. Access to the woods is via minor roads from the A158 and B1202. There is a car park in Chambers Farm Wood accessed from Hoop Lane via the B1202.

The nearest train station is Lincoln (15 kilometres to the west).

There are bus services along the A158 on the Interconnect 6 route from Lincoln to Skegness.

Bardney is close to Cycle Network Route 1.

Contact

Email: sherwood.fdo@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Email for groups and activities: jenny.boatwright@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Gibraltar Point

Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve forms the north-eastern extremity and entrance to the Wash estuary and has been built by complex tidal and geomorphological processes.

Main habitats: coastal

Area: 429 hectares

Management: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

Features of interest

Most of the reserve is intertidal flats and saltmarsh. There are areas of freshwater marsh and man-made fresh and salty water meres. Large numbers of migrant and overwintering birds visit the reserve.

Further information about the NNR, its wildlife and features of interest is on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website.

Directions

The reserve is one and a half miles south of Skegness, Lincolnshire, and is signposted from Skegness town centre. There are buses and trains which run to Skegness, although nothing passes the reserve.

Lincolnshire Coronation Coast

This site is the first new NNR declared as part of the King’s Series and marks the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

This new National Nature Reserve joins the existing sites of Donna Nook NNR and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR to a further 2350 hectares of land managed for nature conservation.

The Lincolnshire Coast has a range of important habitat for species including birds and mammals. It’s also a popular destination for visitors and the new NNR partnership will promote responsible access and enjoyment of the sites.

Features of interest

The site supports natural coastal processes such as forming dunes and saltmarsh growing on the mud flats. These and other nationally important habitats such as the coastal grazing marshes are home to a wide variety of plants and animals.

Special species include redshank, whitethroat, golden plover, natterjack toads, grey seals and a diverse range of plants and insects. The saltmarsh is important in delivering natural solutions to manage climate change as it locks away carbon as it grows.

Locations

The NNR covers several sites including-

Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes:

Further information about site is in the Natural England leaflet on Saltfleetby – Theddlethorpe Dunes. There are also details about 3 marked, accessible trails.

For more information on seasonal highlights and the history of the reserve, see Natural England’s pages on Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes in the National Archive.

Donna Nook:

Further information about this site, its wildlife and features of interest is on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s website.

Tetney-Marshes:

Further information about this site, including events is on the RSPB website.

Cleethorpes Nature Reserve:

Further information on this site is on the north east Lincolnshire council website.

Safety

The NNR covers a large area, some parts of which are relatively remote, and you must be very careful when on the beach as the tide can rise very quickly. Stay away from the Ministry of Defence ranges, which are marked by red flags.

You should use footpaths and follow guidance found on signs and noticeboards. Look out for:

  • uneven surfaces
  • holes
  • soft wet ground
  • soft banks giving way
  • open water

During dry weather conditions there’s a high risk of fire on these sites. Do not discard empty bottles or cigarettes, or light barbecues and please always take any litter home.

For your personal safety, if you are visiting on your own, you’re advised to ensure someone else knows where you’ve gone and roughly what time you’ll be back.

Contact

Email: christopher.evans@naturalengland.org.uk

The Wash

The reserve is a mix of open deep water, permanent shallow water, mudflats and saltmarsh, representing one of Britain’s most important winter feeding areas for waders and wildfowl.

The Wash NNR comprises Kirton Marsh, Terrington St Clement Marsh, Point Green and the North Wootton Marsh. It’s a valuable breeding zone for birds like the redshank and supports one of the largest common seal populations in England.

Main habitat: saltmarsh and mudflats

Area: 8,880 ha

Features of interest

The Wash remains a place where you can enjoy peace and quiet at one of the last truly wild areas in Britain It is also an established area for scientific research and monitoring.

With 10% of England’s saltmarsh located within the Wash and as one of our most important natural habitats, saltmarshes provide an abundance of food for various birds, like brent geese, wigeon and twite. During high tide, look out for birds like curlew, oystercatcher, knot and dunlin roosting on the saltmarsh, while overhead, aerial hunters like the marsh harrier can be seen hunting over the Wash.

During the winter, the Wash is an important feeding ground for up to 400,000 visiting birds like the pink footed geese, brent geese, bar tailed godwit and shelduck.

Directions

The Wash National Nature Reserve is in Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

The reserve spreads across the southern reaches of the Wash and can be accessed along minor roads from the A17, between King’s Lynn and Sutton Bridge.

There is good cycle access, with cycle stands at both Kirton Marsh and Point Green. King’s Lynn is on the junction of National Route 1 and National Route 11.

The nearest station is Kings Lynn.

Bus services along the A17 between King’s Lynn and Sutton Bridge are provided by Norfolk Green and Cavalier Travel. Note that the stops are on the A17, 4 miles from the reserve.

Get involved

Volunteer reserve warden opportunities are available. Volunteers provide us with important information about activities occurring on the Wash NNR. They also help with bird surveys, litter picking and path maintenance.

Contact

For any visits to the Wash NNR, contact the Enquiry Centre on 0300 060 6000.