for nature tomorrow nature for 10M. Peter Wakely/English Nature 16,397 Nature Wakely/English Peter Dunes NNR. NNR. Dunes Status Design & Advertising, & Design Status Main: Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Main: working today today working Designed and Printed by by Printed and Designed Paul Glendell/English Nature 24,143 Nature Glendell/English Paul special access boardwalk. boardwalk. access special Bottom left: Wheelchair user on user Wheelchair left: Bottom Catalogue code ST8.3 code Catalogue Peter Roworth/English Nature 22,835 Nature Roworth/English Peter Top left: Pyramidal orchid. orchid. Pyramidal left: Top ISBN 1 85716 606 X 606 85716 1 ISBN Front cover photographs: cover Front Elemental Chlorine Free. Chlorine Elemental post-consumer waste paper, waste post-consumer Satin, 75% recycled recycled 75% Satin, Printed on Evolution Evolution on Printed © English Nature 2004 Nature English © Nature Reserves. Nature www.english-nature.org.uk and welcome voluntary help on National on help voluntary welcome and english-nature.org.uk actively involved in nature conservation nature in involved actively Email: east.midlands@ Email: grants. We encourage people to become to people encourage We grants. features through advice, research, and research, advice, through features Fax: 01476 584838 01476 Fax: conservation of wildlife and natural natural and wildlife of conservation Telephone: 01476 584800 01476 Telephone: our natural heritage. We promote the the promote We heritage. natural our NG31 6BH NG31 government agency which looks after looks which agency government Grantham, Grantham, context. English Nature is the the is Nature English context. Wharf Road, Road, Wharf are important in an international international an in important are The Maltings, Maltings, The heritage sites in the country and many and country the in sites heritage Eastern Area Team, Team, Area Eastern among the best wildlife and earth earth and wildlife best the among English Nature’s Nature’s English Reserves in England. Such places are places Such England. in Reserves publications published by: by: published publications of more than 200 National Nature National 200 than more of This is one of a range of of range a of one is This Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes is one is Dunes Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve Nature National Theddlethorpe Dunes Theddlethorpe Saltfleetby- Saltfleetby Theddlethorpe Dunes ladies bedstraw and pyramidal orchid. These National Nature Reserve strangely named plants support an array of insects including Enjoy the fascinating wildlife and variety of rare habitats on several bees and this coastal reserve of international importance butterflies. Smaller insects are hunted by Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes Beaches and bombs the dragonflies and robber flies stretches for some 8 km along the Ringed plover. Bill Moorcroft The sand dunes that we see today first that patrol the dunes. north-east coast of Lincolnshire. began to form in the 13th century after some unusually big storms. The sea The prickly sea dragonflies and damselflies breed, the The constantly changing habitats, threw up shingle and other beach buckthorn that covers water spider nests and the leech lurks. It shaped by the wind and the sea, building material and strong winds blew Whitethroat on much of the dunes is is also important habitat for the sand to the back of the beach. The same sea buckthorn. an important plant increasingly scarce water vole. are home to a wealth of plants, Julian Smith coastal processes are still at work today along this coastline. It birds and insects. The national creating new shingle ridges, dunes and provides safe cover and The sea’s bounty saltmarsh. nesting sites for a variety of birds and international importance of including resident dunnocks and wrens as Washed by the tides, the sand, mud and this coastline has been recognised In the 1930s the site was purchased by well as summer visitors such as saltmarsh at the north of the reserve the Air Ministry for use as a bombing whitethroats andwillow warblers. In the by English Nature through the provide food and refuge for the many range, and the beach was littered with old autumn and winter, berries from sea birds that visit our shores in the winter, creation of this National vehicles for use as targets. During the buckthorn, hawthorn and elder provide a from their arctic breeding grounds. Second World War tank traps and feast for thrushes like the fieldfare and Nature Reserve. Ringed plover and sanderling eat the pillboxes were built and the dunes were redwing, which visit from Scandinavia. small sandhoppers and shellfish found at Sand dunes at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. mined to defend against invasion. In the edge of the sea, curlew probe the Paul Glendell/English Nature 24,178 1969 part of the site was handed over to Migrant hawker. Geoff Trinder The bog beasts mud for lugworms, brent geese graze the the Nature Conservancy and declared saltmarsh grass, while flocks of twite a National Nature Reserve, although The formation of dunes and snow bunting eat the seeds of the bombing continued until 1973 when has held water on parts samphire and other saltmarsh plants. the range was finally moved to of the reserve which Donna Nook. have become Management freshwater marsh. Very The secret of the sand hills different to the dry English Nature manages the reserve in dunes, the marsh is partnership with the Lincolnshire The sand here is very fine and is readily home to water loving Wildlife Trust and the Ministry of blown off the beach onto the land, where plants like yellow iris, Defence. Traditional farm practices such it is tamed by specialised plants like meadow sweet and as haymaking and grazing maintain the marram grass, and dunes begin to form. cuckoo flower, and in flower rich meadows, dune grassland Once the dunes are stable, other plants some years a stunning and freshwater marsh, while the sea can become established, including birds display of orchids. It is buckthorn is managed by cutting areas of foot trefoil, fairy flax, viper’s bugloss, here in the pools that the scrub on a long-term rotation. Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Summer Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve Key SSSI boundary Easy Access Trail Public Footpath Parking Path Water vole. Access The reserve can be accessed from seven car parks (shown on the map) located a short distance from the A1031 between Saltfleet and Mablethorpe. There is a public footpath running along the landward edge of most of the reserve and a path between the dunes and the saltmarsh. In addition to these there are the circular walks and the easy access trail detailed below. Viper’s bugloss. Geoff Trinder There are Bus services Mon to Sat from Grimsby stopping at Saltfleet and from Louth and Mablethorpe stopping at Theddlethorpe and Saltfleetby. Sea View trails There are three circular walks from this car park that take you through meadow, dune and saltmarsh. They range from 30 mins to 1hr 30 mins. Churchill Lane trails Green hairsreak. R.H.M. Harvey There are two circular walks from this car park that take you through the freshwater marsh and dunes. They range from 30 to 50 mins. Rimac – easy access trail There is wheelchair/pushchair access to the reserve from the Rimac car park. The bridge to this car park has a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes. Toilets are available from May to October. Natterjack toad Bufo calamita. Silvestris/FLPSA. Winter The track straight on from the entrance takes you to the saltmarsh-viewing platform (500 metres) or you can turn right onto the figure of eight trail (850 metres) to visit the ponds and freshwater marsh. Information panels are situated at various points along the trail. A self-propelled wheelchair and audio guides are available on request. Fieldfare. P.N. Watts/English Nature 25,232 Easy Access trail Sea buckthorn berries. Reserve events English Nature run a range of free guided walks and activities from May to September each year. Be aware For further information on the reserve, the • Danger deep creeks, soft mud and the risk of being cut off by the tide, take extra care events, self-guided trail leaflets or for in foggy conditions. volunteer opportunities either contact the • Part of the foreshore is used by the Ministry of Defence for demolition and care should reserve office on: be taken when the warning flags are displayed. Be aware of unexploded munitions. 01507 338611 • For your own safety and for the benefit of wildlife keep to marked paths and keep dogs or see our website: Shelduck. Bill Moorcroft on a lead or under close control. Paths may be slippery or have uneven surfaces. www.english-nature.org.uk. Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR.