Feathery friends flock to Lincolnshire!
5 March 2010
Natural England’s Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve (NNR) is set to welcome an influx of birds as spring approaches.
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Photograph: Tom Marshall
Millions of migrating birds provide one of the most exhilarating signs of lighter days ahead as new species start arriving for the summer and winter residents return to their traditional breeding grounds.
Over the coming weeks, foreign visitors wheatear, cuckoo, swallow, whitethroat, turtle dove, linnet, willow warbler and chiffchaff will visit the area, whilst resident birds such as skylarks, redshanks and oystercatchers will return to the reserve for the mating season.
“The arrival of our migrant breeding birds is a treat for wildlife watchers,” said Roger Briggs, Natural England Reserve Manager, “Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes provides a safe haven for both long-distance travellers and our resident species. It reminds us what an important resource these reserves are and how important they are to the future of our wildlife.”
Bird lovers are welcome to visit the reserve, please call 01507 338611 or see Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR for more details.
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Notes to editors:
For further information, please email Charlene Kumar, Natural England Communications Advisor, or call 0300 060 2828. Read our press releases.
About Natural England
Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
About National Nature Reserves
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) were initially established to protect sensitive features and to provide ‘outdoor laboratories’ for research. Their purpose has widened since those early days. As well as managing some of our most pristine habitats, our rarest species and our most significant geology, most NNRs now offer great opportunities to the public as well as schools and specialist audiences to experience England’s natural heritage.
Natural England is the body empowered to declare NNRs in England, the Reserves being a selection of the very best parts of England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It is this underlying designation which gives NNRs their strong legal protection. The majority also have European nature conservation designations.
There are now 224 NNRs in England (and one Marine Nature Reserve, Lundy) with a total area of over 92,000 hectares, which is approximately 0.6% of the country’s land surface. The largest is The Wash NNR, covering almost 8,800 hectares, whilst Horn Park Quarry in Dorset, at 0.32 hectares, is the smallest.
