Whisby Nature Park is a 150 hectare Local Nature Reserve located c. 7 miles south-west of Lincoln, on Moor Lane directly north of the village of Thorpe on the Hill, and signposted from the adjacent A46 (see Whisby Nature Park maps). The entrance leads to the Whisby Natural World complex of buildings and car-parks. Parking is charged at a rate of £1 per day (pay and display)between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Early visitors should purchase a ticket if they plan to be on site beyond 10.00am. Binoculars and electric wheelchair 'buggies' can be hired here (see Whisby Natural World Centre). The Nature Park lies immediately adjacent.
Whisby Nature Park was opened in 1989. There are two full-time Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust wardens who organize volunteers to help them undertake habitat management and amenity maintenance, and development on behalf of visitors.
The Nature Park comprises a complex of small, medium and large flooded gravel pits, which have now become 'greened' by up to 40 years of natural colonization and most now show superficially little sign of their industrial heritage. There are seven hides placed to overlook various lakes, with four of them at Grebe Lake. The water bodies are mesotrophic in nature. There is only one significant flowing stream, the Pike Drain, a small agricultural channel of some local importance.
Grebe Lake west
Some former pits in the area have been used as sediment lagoons and now support wet willow scrub. Of these, one has subsequently been cleared and developed into clay grassland, and others are undergoing systematic coppice work to maintain more open scrub conditions. The majority remain as 'non-intervention' areas.
Dense willow and birch scrub can be found over wide areas in the north of the Nature Park on spoil between the pits. This is gradually developing tall canopy scrub resembling woodland. A small oak woodland of some maturity lies alongside the railway crossing. The Lincoln to Newark railway line runs through the Nature Park and intersects with the footpaths by means of a pedestrian bridge.
Near to the sites of former gravel works, there are very dry, open expanses of gravel-pit waste, which are nevertheless developing fascinating communities of flowering plants over time. Relict piles of sandy washings from the gravel-winning process house a colony of sand martins, easily viewable from the path. Some small areas of sand and clay with very low fertility levels support moss and lichen populations.
There are some more orthodox grasslands, both dry and wet, which support a variety of flowering plants in varying degrees. The richest by far is the Orchid Glade at Grebe Lake.
Lady's Bedstraw on gravel pit waste
As an aid to water level management within the Nature Park there is a system of sluices, primarily designed to exploit the capacity of the Nature Park hold potential flood-water from the Pike Drain. There has only been one instance where this system was called into action (autumn 2000) and at other times the water level control maintains both flower-rich, wet grassland at the Orchid Glade and suitable breeding conditions for common terns on Butcher Island and Bruce’s Island in Grebe Lake by means of winter flooding.
A new development is a series of small dams in the Pike Drain to help secure a dependable water level in the drain.
Grebe Lake outlet sluice
Access through the Nature Park comprises old industrial tracks and clay banks around the former excavations, and the total length approaches 6.5 miles. Around half is hard surface, including virtually all of the routes south of the railway. They are provided with waymarkers of re-cycled plastic, which guide the inexperienced visitor safely around clear one-way routes. Along this network are over 30 seats and 7 bird hides, six adapted for wheel chair access, and a set of seven large interpretation boards explaining the habitats and species to be seen through the seasons.
Willow Lake seat
Dogs on leads are welcomed. Thorpe Lake alone is set aside for dogs off the lead, but we consider it best that owners using this facility have a lead available. There are five dog-waste bins around Thorpe Lake to help owners to keep the Nature Park clean.
In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife, there are signs at certain points asking owners voluntarily to restrict their access with dogs. These are at the railway crossing where we ask dog-owners to avoid Magpie Walk and Willow Walk during the breeding season, April-July inclusive; and at the entrances to Willow Walk where we ask them not to enter at any time. A secondary motive here is to provide a dog-free area for those visitors who are uncomfortable around dogs.
