Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Annual Review 2012 – 2013 Lincolnshire Nature Conservation from the Humber to the Wash Protecting Wildlife for the Future Our vision Lincolnshire and the neighbouring sea and estuaries to be rich in wildlife for the benefit of everyone Banded demoiselle Banded Dean Eades Although it is an honour to be benefits from volunteers is in the Our Mission elected as acting chairman of the delivery of the Lapwings magazine, Safeguard wildlife in Lincolnshire Trust it is tinged with sadness due the vast majority being delivered and in the neighbouring sea and the fact that Sir John Mason had to by hand saving the Trust £30,000 a estuaries by: step down due to ill health, we have year. It is not just time that members • protecting existing wild places been friends for many years, and he give up but they are also very as reservoirs of biodiversity and was an excellent chairman. generous in other ways and this by restoring and creating wildlife Although membership went down was the case when a member habitats to contribute to healthy during the year it is pleasing to gave the Trust £2,000 to pay for an functioning ecosystems and report that, with a new partnership extension to Rush Furlong in the an environment more resilient of Wildlife Trusts involved in north of the county. to climate change and other recruiting members, membership It is essential that we maintain challenges; has increased by almost five links with other organisations so that hundred since April and now the wildlife diversity and wild places • sharing this vision with others, stands at approximately 25,500. in the county can be enhanced particularly relevant decision In the present economic climate for future generations. It is the makers; this is good news but we must do support we get from landowners, • encouraging more people to all we can to continue to increase businesses, councils and others that enjoy Lincolnshire’s natural membership and raise the profile of help us in our vision. environment and to understand the Trust. We are grateful to all our the need to conserve it; and by Our members are, along with staff, supporters and thank you all for your • encouraging research our main strength and their efforts in continued commitment to the work of projects which lead to a better volunteering on reserves, serving on the Trust. understanding of the complexities various teams, in sales outlets and of the natural world running Area Groups are vital to the Geoff Trinder Trust. One way in which the Trust Chairman Cover image: Six-spot burnet moth at Red Hill nature reserve Rachel Scopes In 2012 The Wildlife Trusts (originally the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves now Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts) celebrated its centenary. To mark the occasion, and in recognition of “his unique contribution to the first 100 years of nature conservation”, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s founder and President, Ted Smith, was presented with the Society’s Centenary Award (the only one of its kind) by Sir David Attenborough at a ceremony in Woodhall Spa. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust presented the first President’s Awards at events across the county to recognise the outstanding contribution of volunteers. The award, a silver lapwing pin, will continue to be awarded and further nominations are sought. Tom Marshall Tom Inspiring people Bug hunting at Whisby Nature Park Royston Adrian Nature reserves, events and education programmes 25,010 people supported are providing wide-ranging opportunities for people the Trust through membership providing valuable funds to to experience wildlife and the natural landscape protect the wildlife and habitats of Maintaining a strong Launching new Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire. formal environmental Wildlife Watch groups education capacity Wildlife Watch groups are 9,000 students from 188 The principal sites of Gibraltar predominantly run by dedicated schools, colleges and universities Point, Whisby Nature Park and volunteers and have been shown to participated in formal education Far Ings were the focus of formal be nurturing the conservationists of visits at Gibraltar Point, Far Ings education activities with 9,000 the future. and Whisby Nature Park. students participating in formal Following the establishment of new education visits. Over half of these groups at Spalding and Grimsby, two were primary students with a quarter further groups were launched at Far being secondary, and others being Ings and Gibraltar Point. higher education and adult. New educational programmes Interpreting the were developed including, for five wildlife of nature reserves and six year olds, investigating seed dispersal using fake fur mittens Panels on nature reserves and much to the delight of the pupils and inside hides help visitors learn teachers involved. more about the wildlife they see. Over 60 schools were visited for Interpretation at the new Willow outreach work, engaging a further Tree Fen Nature Reserve was 5,500 students. completed. Interpretation for the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, incorporating a number of existing Delivering high quality events Trust reserves, is now in place with Staff, volunteers and Area Groups further plans proposed. Mary Porter organised nearly 300 events with over New interpretation has been 10,000 participants. The wide ranging installed at Snipe Dales and Epworth Three dormice were found, events included guided walks, reserve Turbary. A full review of signage measured and weighed by the open days and children’s activities. has been undertaken at Gibraltar Limewoods Wildlife Watch Group The Trust attended over 30 Point NNR along with interpretation when they carried out ‘box checks’ external events including the to the newly opened up woodland at Chambers Farm Wood. Lincolnshire Show and Birdfair, area, providing wheelchair access to both of which took place despite viewing screens, bird feeding areas 3,700 people received a monthly the dreadful weather which saw the and ponds. newsletter via email. cancellation of many events. New visitor facilities at The Big Free Pond Dip at Whisby Donna Nook enabled improved Nature Park attracted over 140 people interpretation for the seal season. Seven families took up the for a morning of free pond dipping A new bird hide with wheelchair challenge of spending 24 hours and bug hunting for all the family, access at Far Ings (overlooking the in a woodland nature reserve and despite the weather the families recently enhanced wetland scrapes learning bushcraft skills. Eight year attended were very enthusiastic and area) was installed. old Conner Marshall described it as amazed at what they found. “a totally awesome experience”. Tom Marshall Tom Creating a living landscape Starlings in flight over Whisby NaturePark RobertsNeil 15,000 starlings were seen Our nature reserves are vital in securing the long-term above the Ness Pit reedbed at future of Lincolnshire’s wildlife in their own right and at dusk on Christmas Day at Far Ings in what turned out to be a special the heart of Living Landscape schemes winter for the starling murmurations Managing nature reserves for Establishing new nature reserves with reports of spectacular scenes from Deeping Lakes and Whisby wildlife and people. within Living Landscapes Nature Park (above). Work on the Trust’s ninety-eight The only acquisition in the year nature reserves continued apace was the freehold purchase of 120 and included grass cutting and hectares at Woodhall Spa Airfield. 3,855 green-winged orchids raking, weed control, scrub bashing, Sixty-three hectares was already in were counted in Rush Furlong ditch clearing and the multitude of conservation management by the nature reserve and showing they other unglamorous tasks carried Trust (since 2004) and subject to an are spreading across the reserve out by field staff and an army of Environmental Stewardship Scheme. (below) dedicated volunteers. Part of the site is still subject to a The year also saw major projects farming tenancy and therefore yet to including: come under direct management by the Trust. • Willow Tree Fen: completion of This adds considerably to paths, hides and information the ‘Kirkby Living Landscape’ centre, and the creation of a fish aspiration, with the extension refuge on the River Glen. making a contiguous block of 255 • Crowle Moor: new large grazing hectares, with only the minor road enclosure completed in the north of Kirkby Lane forming a break in reserve, with birch thinning for the continuous land holding. At the improved nightjar habitat. The re- longest axis the site now runs for 2.5 wetting programme was aided by miles north to south and 1.75 mile record spring rainfall. east to west, making it the Trust’s Matthew Blissett Matthew • Legbourne Wood: coppice regime largest inland nature reserve and the was reinstated after 50 years with biggest freehold nature reserve. no coppicing. Fundraising has begun to enable 1,600 brent geese wintered at • Kirkby Moor and Moor Farm: water the Trust to buy the remainder of Gibraltar Point National Nature level management structures to the site when CEMEX’s operational Reserve. maintain conditions for wet heath. activities are complete. This offers • Snipe Dales: stream enhancements the prospect of further connectivity 48 reserves were grazed and the to allow better fish migration and with other wildlife sites and improved hay cut and we are very grateful re-fencing in the nature reserve. visitor access. to the many farmers who have Commencement of the woodland Due to on-going aggregate assisted us in this work. It was a flora re-introduction programme in extraction and agricultural tenancy very good year for hay following the Country Park. agreements there is currently no access provision. The site can be the wet conditions with record • Saltfleetby – Great Eau floodbank viewed from the south-west corner breaking yields. realignment and washland of Kirkby Moor nature reserve and creation.