Horbling Line Location and Access OS: 130 • GR: TF 115350 • freight traffic, particularly for potatoes Since 1994, under new management 1.20 hectares and grain. The to within the Trust, the scrub has been (3.00acres) • Management agreement section of track finally pushed back and the grassy areas have 1985 closed on 28 July 1956. However, the re-established themselves. In 2003 Habitat type: Scrub and grassland track was retained and was used for volunteers from the Prince’s Trust spent some years to store redundant railway a week working on the reserve, Access is from the site of the old railway wagons north of the A52 at installing steps, hedge planting and bridge on the lane running westwards . coppicing a large area of scrub. Prior to from the village of . There is a (Information from: Lost Railways of actually working on the reserve they had path through the northern section and ) carried out a number of fund-raising limited access into the southern section. activities, which paid for the step Access to both cuttings is by the steps After the closure of the railway the material, the hedge planting, and a seat from the roadside. green linear “wildlife corridor” for the reserve. inevitably started to change. Some of Now and the future Description and Management the land was sold and converted back to agriculture. Some sections presented The reserve is a small haven for Scrub and grassland habitats on a more of a challenge to convert, wildlife. The steps installed by the stretch of disused railway line. The including the cuttings and embankments Prince’s Trust allowed easier access to reserve section of this old railway track within the current reserve area. Scrub the northern part of the reserve, and consists of a cutting and an and woodland started to colonise these potentially created a circular walk from embankment. Blackthorn and hawthorn areas, creating an attractive area for the village, which has become very scrub provide nest sites for whitethroat wildlife. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust popular. Local farmers have used the and lesser whitethroat, spotted archives reports that during a site presence of the nature reserve to flycatcher, nightingale and tree sparrow. survey in 1982 there were some fine enhance their land under the Higher In winter seed supplies attract flocks of grassland areas where the track had Level Stewardship scheme (HLS). This finches, and there is a large thrush been removed, with more than one pair government funded scheme aims to roost. The commoner butterflies are of nightingales being seen and heard in deliver significant environmental also abundant. Control of scrub and the scrub areas. benefits to land in the scheme. The land maintenance of open grassy areas are in the HLS scheme, the Trust reserve, the main management aims. At that time there was some threat that and the historically important ridge and History the land would also be levelled and furrow field adjacent to the reserve converted to agriculture. A local makes a much larger area for wildlife, The 16 mile single track Great Northern campaign to save the area was and provides linkage to other wildlife Railway line between Bourne and mounted, instigated by Jason Wright, a areas. Sleaford opened for goods traffic in schoolboy at Brown’s School in October 1871. A passenger service Horbling. The campaign featured in the started on 2 January 1872 with 5 local press and a 140 signature petition passenger trains a day. With just 4 was sent to the site owners, the Crown stations between Bourne and Sleaford Estate Commissioners. (Morton Road, Rippingale, Billingborough and Horbling, Eventually, the present reserve area was and Scredington) the journey time was leased from Crown Estates to the Trust fifty minutes, making the average speed as a nature reserve in 1985. Initially around 20 mph. Trust volunteers worked at establishing a path through the northern part of the With poor connecting services the line reserve, and cleared some scrub. This was never well used by passengers, and enthusiasm soon faltered and the area closed for passenger traffic in became somewhat neglected. By 1994 September 1930, although special most of the grassy areas had succumbed Sunday excursions between Bourne and to scrub encroachment, and the path continued occasionally until long gone. 1939. The line was more successful for

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Banovallum House, Manor House Street, , Lincolnshire LN9 5HF Tel: 01507 526667 | Email: [email protected] | www.lincstrust.org.uk Registered charity no. 218895 Horbling Line

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Banovallum House, Manor House Street, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 5HF Tel: 01507 526667 | Email: [email protected] | www.lincstrust.org.uk Registered charity no. 218895