Situations Vacant
Wash Study Centre Administrator
Part-time Administrator required to support our education staff at Gibraltar Point.
For Peat's Sake
The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is urging gardeners to go peat-free for International Bog Day (Sunday 27 July).
Amateur gardeners account for nearly 70% of peat used in horticulture in the UK, and many do not realise the extensive damage the peat extraction process causes. The Wildlife Trusts, which have been campaigning for peatland preservation since 1990, are using International Bog Day to highlight these issues, and urge everyone to go peat-free.
You can help this International Bog Day by:
- Buying peat-free, or making your own, compost;
- Asking for plants grown in peat-free compost;
- Asking your MP to press for Government action to protect peatlands;
- Asking for your local garden centre for a copy of its peat policy;
- Refusing to shop in garden centres stocking peat from Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSIs);
- For more information about wildlife gardening, including making your own compost visit www.wildaboutgardens.org
> Read the press release: For Peat's Sake
| Download The Wildlife Trusts’ leaflet, For Peat’s Sake: Where to Buy Peat-Free Products: |
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Peat_free_08.pdf - 255KB |
July 2008
County Pond Survey
The first counts of ponds in Britain took place at the beginning of the 20th century and recorded 1.2 million ponds. So many have been lost through drainage, infilling and neglect that it is thought that there are now only about 400,000 ponds. However, small ponds still make up the majority of waterbodies in the UK and they are of great value to wildlife. It has been suggested that ponds are in fact the most important freshwater habitat: at a regional level ponds support considerably more species, more unique species and more scarce species than other waterbody types (e.g. rivers and streams). And this includes garden ponds.
Many people have garden ponds but little is known about where they are or how good they are for wildlife. The Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership has launched a Ponds and Amphibians Survey to gain an understanding of the distribution of small ponds in the county and their biodiversity value. This is the first step in being able to identify priorities for conservation management.
Anyone can take part in the survey – of their own pond or of ponds that are accessible from public rights of way or from public land such as village ponds.
June 2008
Success at the Show
Thanks to everyone who visited our “water and wetland” themed marquee at the Lincolnshire Show this year. Our marquee was a hive of activity with people looking at freshwater invertebrates, pond dipping virtual style, colouring-in water drops and encouraging people to make a pledge to save water (our apologies if it was your child who pledged not to have any more baths or brush his teeth!) or just throwing bean bags at a large frog!
We were delighted to win the prize for the best stand in the Countryside Area and were presented with a silver cup by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society President, Richard Parker. Thanks all the volunteers and staff who helped make our stand a success. If you didn’t make it this year, perhaps we’ll see you there next year when we will be celebrating 60 years of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
June 2008
Tour the wild fenland
You can how discover the wildlife and history of the wild fenlands, centred on the Trust reserves Baston Fen and Thurlby Fen, with a brand new website.
Or you can visit the fens in person using the "Gateway to the Lincolnshire Fens" tour guide leaflet. The leaflet takes you on a driving tour of the area exploring the landscape, wildlife and history and is available as a download on the website.
> Go to lincsfenlands.org.uk for more information.
June 2008
What do you love about the marshes?
The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project is looking for ways to enhance people's experience of the Marshes and is planning to make a bid for Heritage Lottery Funding in support of this.
We would like your help in finding out about the various people who visit and live within the Marshes and any suggestions you have for improving people's visits to the Marshes.
> Visit the marshes website to find out more and fill in the online questionnaire.
May 2008
Outdoor learning for adults - Courses in 2008
We have a range of opportunities for adults to learn about and explore the natural world. The day and residential weekend courses based at Gibraltar Point, Whisby Nature Park and Far Ings. One of the highlights is the Wildlife Taster Weekend from Friday 8 – Sunday 10 August at Gibraltar Point. There are also a range of arts and crafts courses from painting to making Christmas crafts.
> Find out more.
April 2008
Country Park on the East Coast
Views are being sought on proposals to develop a country park on Lincolnshire’s east coast, between Sandilands and Chapel St. Leonards. The proposed country park would be designed to provide high quality facilities for visitors and better protection for wildlife. The park would cover approximately eight kilometres of coastline and up to 35 square kilometres of coastal countryside.
It is hoped that the area can be developed over the next five to ten years and beyond. Among potential developments are a visitor or heritage centre, networked observatories, interpretation points and improved parking and recreational facilities.
Have your say by taking part in the public consultation by filling in the questionnaire.
April 2008
Wild Card Competition
The winner of our Wild Card Competition is… Twin Robins
Eight year old Myla Smith’s engaging and colourful collage was the winning entry in our competition for children to design a Christmas card for the Trust. Myla from Wigtoft near Boston was delighted to have won and is looking forward to seeing her design in print.
The Christmas card is titled “Twin Robins” and will be on sale from July in our shop in the Castle Square, Lincoln, from Gibraltar Point and Far Ings, and online from the website.
April 2008
Tree Felling at Snipe Dales
Visitors to Snipe Dales Country Park may have noticed the effects of red band needle blight on the Corsican pines. The impact of the disease is cumulative, with no known cure. A programme of felling has taken place to remove diseased trees starting alongside the paths and tracks. In spite of the large and heavy machinery being used, great care was taken to preserve young native trees and shrubs.
The impact of this large-scale felling has had a dramatic effect on the appearance of Snipe Dales, however, it will quickly benefit our wildlife. Natural regeneration of native broadleaved trees has already been seen.
The long term plan for the Country Park is to transform the pine plantation into a broadleaved woodland. THe felling of the Corsican pines, combined with the planting of nature hardwoods and natural regeneration, was planned to take place over a long period of time. Now the disease has struck, the timescale has had to be markedly compressed.
November 2007
Car Parking Season Tickets
A combined car parking season ticket for Gibraltar Point and Snipe Dales is available for £7.50 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.
February 2007
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
> Further information.
20 February 06
Stop Climate Chaos
Climate change is real and happening now. Launched in September 2005, Stop Climate Chaos is the biggest climate change coalition that this country has seen. Eighteen campaign groups including the Wildlife Trusts have joined forces to demand action on climate change. The new coalition wants the government to slash the UK's global warming gas emissions and make fighting climate change a key part of its plans to deal with global poverty. The new movement believes politicians have so far failed to take anything like sufficient action to tackle the threat. The choices made in the next five or ten years will determine the extent of the devastation faced by future generations. With coordinated action and the mobilisation of its massive supporter base Stop Climate Chaos aims to become a potent political force for action.
> See the Stop Climate Chaos website for information on climate change.
September 2005
