Kirkby Gravel Pits Location and Access OS: 122 • GR: TF 236609 • dragonflies, including brown argus and 14.80 hectares (36.50acres) • Freehold banded demoiselle. 1991 Habitat type: Marsh/Wetland Management of the main pit is focused on controlling the water level by Situated on both sides of the Old River means of a tilting weir installed in Bain about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) south of 2001. The level is lowered in spring to Kirkby on Bain, this reserve lies to the provide islands for nesting birds, and east of a minor road that connects further lowering in late summer Kirkby on Bain with . A small produces shallow water for passage car park is provided, with a birdwatching waders and wildfowl. Maximum level hide nearby, giving excellent views of is reached during the winter, covering the largest pit. In order to minimise the islands to a sufficient depth to disturbance, the only other access is remove all vegetation and prevent from the car park northwards to join the them from becoming overgrown. The public bridleway along the north-east diversity of other habitats is boundary. maintained by coppicing some of the woodland and mowing or grazing the Please note that surrounding pits are grassland. private and can only be viewed from public rights of way. Riverslea Lake next to Kirkby Gravel Pits nature reserve was purchased in Description and Management 2009 thanks to funding from Biffaward, a multi-million Much of the reserve consists of flooded pound sand & gravel pits, fringed by reeds and environment fund willows. There are also small areas of managed by the sparse vegetation, grassland, scrub, and Royal Society of maturing woodland. Birds are the main Wildlife Trusts wildlife interest, with something of (RSWT), which interest all year round. In spring and utilises landfill tax summer, the pits attract many breeding credits donated by water birds, often including pochard and Biffa Waste gadwall, while the islands have nesting Services (a smaller little ringed plover and common tern, portion of the lake and surrounding habitats support turtle is in private dove and eight species of warbler. Late ownership). summer and autumn bring migrant Riverslea Lake can waders such as green sandpiper along be viewed from the with congregations of teal and other public footpath ducks. In winter the reserve is an that runs between important refuge for a variety of the lake and the wetland birds. Kingfisher and green existing Kirkby woodpecker can be seen at any time of Gravel Pits nature year. Uncommon birds are always a reserve. possibility, particularly in spring and autumn; rarities in recent years include spoonbill, Temminck's stint, Baird's sandpiper and caspian tern. Notable amongst the other wildlife are grass snake, small numbers of bee orchids, and a good variety of butterflies and

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