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 | Working for Local Wildlife
Do you have an interest in your local wildlife and environment? Do you enjoy meeting people? Then we would love to hear from you. |
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Free Pond and Pond Life Workshop
Saturday 27 April - Fully booked
A free Ponds and Pond Life workshop is being held on Saturday 27 April 2013 (10.00am—3.30pm) at the Rimac classroom, Saltfleetby—Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve.
The workshop is to learn about ponds and the wildlife that lives in them. There will be information on how to create and manage your own wildlife pond including which plants to use and which are best avoided. There will also be a chance for some pond dipping to look at some aquatic animals up close and a walk to visit the natterjack pools on the reserve. Cold drinks will be provided, please bring your own hot drinks and a packed lunch.
There is no charge but places must be booked in advance by calling the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Headquarters on 01507 526667.
Further information will be provided after bookings have been made. The workshop is part of the Discovering the Natural Environment events in the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes.
For information on the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project visit www.lincsmarshes.org.uk
Photo: Common frog (Clare Sterling)
April 2013
Nature and the National Curriculum
Proposed changes to the national curriculum could see children not being taught about protecting the natural environment.
Current proposals in the draft new curriculum quietly drop any reference to school children being required to be taught “to care for the environment” or “ways in which living things and the environment need protection”.
Simon King, President of The Wildlife Trusts, writes:
"I can hardly believe that anyone would want to make changes to the curriculum that could lead to large-scale human suffering and damage the rest of life on earth. Yet Michael Gove proposes to stop teaching children to care for the environment. A younger generation equipped to understand and tackle the massive environmental problems we have left them is our only hope for the future."
Find out more about the changes, and how you can respond to the Department of Education Consultation, on The Wildlife Trusts website.
The consultation closes on Tuesday 16 April 2013
April 2013
Searching for our green heroes
Entries are being sought for the county's most prestigious celebration of environmental excellence: The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2013 are open for entries.
A very diverse range of people and groups enter the awards. Past winners have included village community groups that have created wildlife areas; schools that have grown their own vegetables, built recycled bottle greenhouses and bug palaces; farmers that have restored and planted hedges, and created wetlands.
> Read the press release to find out more
> Visit the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards website
The deadline for entries is 30 April 2013
April 2013
Things with Wings art competition
Your vote is needed in the Things with Wings Schools Art Competition on display at Gibraltar Point Visitor Centre until 19 April.
Over the winter months, the Gibraltar Point Education Officers toured local primary schools with their Things with Wings assemblies. At the end of each assembly, the children were invited to take part in an art competition. For a chance to win a prize for their school, all they had to do was produce a piece of art inspired by the assembly.
The 23 class entries from 11 schools are on display in the visitor centre and now it’s time for the public to vote! You can help decide which school wins by voting for your favourite piece of art.
The Gibraltar Point visitor centre is open every day, 10am – 4pm. Combine your visit to the art exhibition with a walk about the wild coast of Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve and take time to relax and enjoy delicious food and drink in The Point Café.
Images of some of the artworks can be seen on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Facebook page.
April 2013
Improving the Scrapes
In late September diggers arrived at Far Ings National Nature Reserve to begin a major project to re-wet a dried out fen in the area called the scrapes.
The plan is to lower the scrapes area, link it to adjacent water bodies creating permanent water and reed fringe, and to increase public accessibility. 1.4 hectares of wet reedbed will be created contributing to local and national targets for reedbeds. The area will become much wetter and more attractive to wetland birds including priority conservation species: bittern, water rail, bearded tit and snipe.
The improvement works being undertaken include:
- Excavation and deepening of the existing Scrapes area.
- Installation of new sluices with eel passes.
- Creation of new islands in Target Lake for nesting terns and avocet.
- Removal of the two old Scrapes hides.
- Construction of a new raised bird hide with all-round vision and ramp access.
The project is supported by: BIFFA, the Environment Agency, North East Lindsey Drainage Board and Natural England.
October 2012
Photographing the Coastal Grazing Marshes
A Digital Photographic Competition has just been launched by the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project.
The competition theme is 'The Living Marshes' and photographs should show different aspects of life in the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes in the following categories:
* Working life
* The grazing marshes in all weathers
* Hidden heritage
* Wildlife
Prizes include £500 cash prize for the overall winner and £150 each for three runners-up. The best photos will form part of a touring exhibition and may be used on promotional material which will include a grazing marshes calendar.
The competition is open 15 June 2012 until 14 June 2013.
More details and rules are available on the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes website. To be eligible for the competition photographs must have been taken within the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes area.
Photo: Joe Blissett
July 2012
Transforming Willow Tree Fen
At Willow Tree Fen nature reserve in South Holland the transformation of 114 hectares of farmland to a typical fenland landscape of reedbeds, shallow meres, seasonally flooded pastures and hay meadows is picking up pace. From 1 May, with the Higher Level Stewardship agreement from Natural England in place, some of the major work on the land can begin.
Fencing will be put in place, a new ditch dug and water control structures installed: ready to be re-wetted in the late summer/autumn. Over the summer, the site will be kept dry so the inevitable weeds can be kept under control and for re-seeding with 7 different grass species suitable for wet fenland conditions.
Developing the habitats at Willow Tree Fen will triple the area of wild fenland in the county and it is linked by waterways to other existing nature reserves. It's been made possible with financial support from Natural England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership, Environment Agency and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's members.
> Willow Tree Fen nature reserve
May 2010
Lincolnshire coastal landscape to benefit
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded an earmarked first-round pass to the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes as part of its Landscape Partnership (LP) programme. The grant of £904,500, including £47,100 development funding, will form part of a £1.7million project to help safeguard the unique natural and historic heritage of the coastal plain.
The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project has been developed by a partnership which brings together interested parties from local authorities and agriculture, environment, conservation and heritage sector bodies. Practical and financial support will be available for local farmers in the conservation and management of grassland and livestock through a capital grant scheme and training programme; there will be opportunities, through a programme of activities, for local people and visitors to learn about the history, traditions and wildlife of this forgotten part of Lincolnshire; people will be encouraged to interpret the local landscape and celebrate local legends, customs and myths through art, creative writing and performance; and a series of nature and heritage trails, themed cycle routes and new horse-riding trails will allow people to explore the area and appreciate its unique charm and beauty.
Lincolnshire County Council will be the lead partner in the next stage; to develop these themes further and produce detailed proposals and project plans. Involvement of local communities will be essential in this process to make sure that the project incorporates people’s ideas about what is special and distinctive about the local landscape and its history.
> Visit the Coastal Grazing Marshes website (opens in new browser window)
April 2009
Car Parking Season Tickets
A combined car parking season ticket for Gibraltar Point and Snipe Dales is available for £10.00 for 12 months.
The season ticket is available at the Snipe Dales Office, Gibraltar Point Visitor Centre or by post from:
Banovallum House, Manor House Street, Horncastle LN9 5HF
Please make cheques payable to "Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust".
Mark your envelope CPST and enclose a stamped addressed envelope.
March 2012
