About LWT

100  YEARS  OF  THE  WILDLIFE  TRUSTS' Gibraltar Point in 1962 Ted Smith leads the pond dipping The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust was founded in 1948 but the history of the nationwide Wildlife Trusts movement can be traced back to 1912. In May 1912 Charles Rothschild held a meeting to discuss saving places for nature. His radical idea was to compile a list of wildlife sites 'worthy of preservation'. The meeting led to the formation of the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR), the body which would later become The Wildlife Trusts. At that time the idea of protecting places for wildlife was, according to the historian John Sheail, "outside the mainstream of the nature preservation movement". The influence of SPNR on the UK government began the process to set up the first National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Meanwhile, local Wildlife Trusts were appearing. Norfolk in 1926, Yorkshire in 1946 and Lincolnshire in 1948. Soon Lincolnshire founder Ted Smith began helping Trusts establish in other counties. By the end of 1950 it was clear that this growing movement needed national representation. Smith chose SPNR for the job: "We felt that each Trust, whilst losing nothing of its independence, would benefit from association with others and that the conservation movement generally would thereby be strengthened." Led by Ted Smith, the SPNR became the co-ordinator. Within 15 years Wildlife Trusts covered the UK mainland. DISCOVER  OUR  HISTORY Books & DVDs celebrating the history of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust are available to buy by mail order. Discover Our History FIND  OUT  MORE  ABOUT  THE  HISTORY OF  THE  WILDLIFE  TRUSTS'  MOVEMENT www.wildlifetrusts.org/100

History of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

The Trust was founded in 1948, the third of the Wildlife Trusts to be formed which now cover the whole of the UK.

Landmarks in the Trust's history

• 1948
  » Incorporation as the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Trust.
   
• 1949
  » Gibraltar Point established as nature reserve.
  » Field Station and Bird Observatory opened.
   
• 1953
  » Public Inquiry into refusal of planning permission for caravans at Gibraltar Point.
   
• 1954
  » Scotton Common, first freehold nature reserve acquired.
   
• 1957
  » Epworth and Haxey Turbaries acquired.
  » Appeal launched for Linwood Warren.
   
• 1959
  » Old Coastguard House at Gibraltar Point leased to Trust.
   
• 1960
  » First national conference of Wildlife Trusts held at Skegness.
   
• 1962
  » Public Inquiry into revocation of planning permission for caravan camp on Saltfleetby sand dunes.
   
• 1963
  » Waddingham Common, one of Lincolnshire's premier wildlife sites, destroyed by drainage and ploughing.
  » First Information Centre at Gibraltar Point opened by Peter Scott.
   
• 1965
  » Headquarters established at the Manor House, Alford.
  » Field Officer appointed.
   
• 1966
  » First Trust film Nature in Trust produced.
  » Protected Roadside Verge Scheme established - the first in Britain.
   
• 1967
  » First Area Group formed.
  » Baston Fen acquired.
   
• 1968
  » First nature trail at Mausoleum Wood, Brocklesby.
   
• 1970
  » 'Invest in Lincolnshire's Wildlife' appeal launched.
   
• 1971
  » Visit of HRH The Prince of Wales to Gibraltar Point.
   
• 1972
  » Premiere of Trust's second film An Eye for the Country.
   
• 1973
  » Silver Jubilee Year.
  » First edition of nature reserves handbook.
   
• 1974
  » New Visitor Centre at Gibraltar Point opened by Sir David Attenborough.
   
• 1976
  » Frampton Marsh reserve established.
  » Director appointed.
   
• 1977
  » First Job Creation team appointed.
   
• 1978
  » Lincoln shop opened.
   
• 1979
  » Donna Nook nature reserve established.
  » First Regional Warden appointed.
   
• 1983
  » Membership reaches 5000.
  » Far Ings nature reserve acquired.
   
• 1984
  » Gibraltar Point designated National Nature Reserve.
   
• 1985
  » 'Coast and Country Campaign' launched.
   
• 1986
  » Wash Viewpoint opened.
   
• 1987
  » Campaign total reaches £160,000.
  » Membership passes 7000.
   
• 1988
  » Far Ings Visitor Centre work begins.
  » Red Data Report published - the first for any county.
  » 90th nature reserve established.
  » 40th Anniversary Reception in Lincoln.
   
• 1989
  » New reserves at Barrow Haven, Boultham Mere and Kingerby Beck Meadows.
  » Churchyard survey launched.
  » Whisby Nature Park established.
   
• 1990
  » Trust Chairman, Ted Smith, awarded the Christopher Cadbury Medal for services to nature conservation.
   
• 1991
  » Far Ings Visitor Centre opened.
   
• 1992
  » Fenland Lagoon created at Gibraltar Point.
  » Robert's Field, formerly one of Lincolnshire's finest limestone grasslands, rich in butterflies, but planted with conifers in the 1960s, is bought by the Trust for restoration.
  » Pasture Wharf on the Humber Bank purchased.
   
• 1993
  » Trust headquarters moves to Banovallum House, Horncastle.
  » Hebridean sheep flock established for grazing heaths and grassland.
   
• 1994
  » Spring policy conference.
  » Trust enters English Nature's Reserves Enhancement Scheme.
   
• 1995
  » Natterjack toad successfully re-introduced to Gibraltar Point.
  » Crowle Waste designated as National Nature Reserve.
   
• 1996
  » Westfield Lakes extension to Far Ings purchased with help of grant from Heritage Lottery Fund.
  » Nature in Lincolnshire: Towards a Biodiversity Strategy published.
   
• 1997
  » Membership reaches 9,000.
  » Read's Island joint Trust/RSPB project begins.
  » Heritage Lottery Fund assists:
     - Red Hill reserve extension
     - Scotton Common extension
     - Toby's Hill acquisition
   
• 1998
  » Trust Celebrates its Golden Jubilee.
  » Ted Smith received Hon. Doctorate.
  » Membership reaches 10,000.
  » Gibraltar Point celebrates 50th Anniversary.
  » Five-Year Heritage Lottery Capital Projects grant award.
  » Trust is Lincolnshire Environmental Award outright winner.
   
• 1999
  » Ted Smith receives CBE.
  » Membership reaches 11,500.
  » Whisby Nature Park Millennium Grant confirmed.
  » Trust name changed to "Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust".
   
• 2000
  » Whisby Millennium buildings completed.
  » Bitterns breeding again at Far Ings.
  » Croftmarsh extension at Gibraltar Point.
   
• 2001
  » Nature reserves close due to foot and mouth.
  » Official opening of Millennium Buildings at Whisby Nature Park by HRH Duke of Edinburgh.
  » Greetwell Hollow in Lincoln becomes a Trust Nature Reserve.
  » Trust Membership reaches 13,000.
  » Grant of £365,000 awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund for Education and Community Project.
   
• 2002
  » Membership reaches 15,000.
  » The new Local Nature Reserve at Gibraltar Point, including Jackson's Marsh, Croftmarsh and Tennyson's Sands, officially opened.
  » Donna Nook declared a National Nature Reserve, it is the first National Nature Reserve to be declared on Ministry of Defence owned land.
  » Wildlife Watch membership reaches 2,000.
  » The 50th anniversary of the statutory declaration of Gibraltar Point as a nature reserve by the former Lindsey County Council is celebrated.
  » Whisby Nature Park is declared a Local Nature Reserve.
   
• 2003
  » Membership reaches 20,000.
  » Five pairs of bitterns breed in Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.
  » The end of the Five-year HLF project on nature reserves.
  » Deeping Lakes nature reserve established.
  » Launch of the Coversands project.
   
• 2004
  » Trust launches an appeal to establish Legbourne Wood as a nature reserve.
  » A trail of wildlife mosaics, designed and created by school and community groups, is opened at Far Ings Nature Reserve.
  » Avocets nest on two Trust nature reserves.
  » Wildlife Watch membership reaches 4000.
   
• 2005
  » Far Ings is designated a National Nature Reserve.
  » Rush Furlong and Dole Wood are extended.
  » The Trust joined in partnership with Lindum Rotary Club to organise the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards.
  » Launch of the Lincolnshire Limewoods Project.
   
• 2006
  » Visitor Centre at Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve re-developed and extended with new interpretive displays, increased retail area and cafe.
  » Far Ings National Nature Reserve extended with the purchase of Target Lake.
  » Five-year South Humber Wildlife and People (SHWAP) project launched.
  » Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre launched.
  » Second edition of the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Action Plan published.
   
• 2007
  » New visitor and education centre opened at Far Ings National Nature Reserve.
  » Trustees for Nature – A Memoir of the conservation movement in Lincolnshire and the UK by Ted Smith published.
  » Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership, an independent service bringing together the Biodiversity Action Plan, Environmental Records Centre and the Local Wildlife Sites scheme, launched.
   
• 2008
  » On Tuesday 2 December 2008, the Trust begins celebrations of its Diamond Jubilee.
  » 'Wild Lincolnshire', a photographic book by Geoff Trinder is published.
  » After 32 years as Director of the Trust, Stuart Crooks retired. Paul Learoyd starts as new Chief Executive.
  » The Wildlife Trusts Christopher Cadbury staff medal is awarded to Stuart Crooks.
  » Funding is received for the limestone grasslands in Lincolnshire and Rutland Project.
   
• 2009
  » Throughout the year, the 60 anniversary of the Trust is celebrated.
  » Willow Tree Farm is purchased and the first steps taken on its transformation to a fenland nature reserve.
  » The first trees are planted in Monks Wood, part of Ashing Lane nature reserve.
  » Anderby Marsh is purchased.
  » In November, the Marine and Coastal Access Bill receives Royal Assent becomes an Act and law.
   
• 2010
  » Volunteers survey over 2,200km of roadside nature reserve in south-west Lincolnshire as part of the Life on the Verge Project.
  » Two films, made in 1967 and 1972, are re-released. They chart the changing landscape and wildlife of the county and the work of the Trust.
  » Whisby Wildlife Watch group is selected as the national Wildlife Watch Group of the Year.
   
• 2011
  » Life on the Verge is launched in the Lincolnshire Wolds with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
  » The Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre receives its one millionth wildlife record.
  » Heritage Lottery Fund funding helps communities learn about, look after and celebrate the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park and Coastal Grazing Marshes.
  » The Biodiversity Action Plan for 2011 to 2020 is launched at the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership’s annual conference.