Woodhall Spa Airfield
Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve
Woodhall Spa Airfield was formerly the home of four brave RAF squadrons, including 617 ‘The Dambusters’ Squadron, but more recently was used as a sand and gravel quarry.
As a nature reserve it is a haven for wildlife as well as a place where visitors can share in the unique and peaceful atmosphere of this former airfield.
Nick Upton/2020VISION
Visitor information
Know before you go
Facilities
- Visitor parking
- Bird hide
- Viewing areas
Dogs
Dogs are not permitted on this reserve with the exception of assistance dogs.
Access
The main path along the reserve is the airfield's former concrete runway.
Please note: The reserve has a locked pedestrian gate for security. You will need an access code to enter the reserve. Please contact us during office hours on 01507 526667 or send us a private message on our Facebook page. If you require wheelchair access, please contact 01507 526667 ahead of your journey.
Opening times
Reserve open all year.
Please note: Pedestrian access is via a locked gate and requires an access code. If visiting on a weekend, you will need to contact us for the access code on a weekday before travelling. The code is regularly updated, so even if you've visited before it's best to ring ahead.
Group visits
Any organised groups wishing to visit a reserve must fill in a Group Visit Form at least one month in advance of their visit. You can find the form on our group visit page.
Alternatively if you are looking to bring a school group, please contact info@lincstrust.co.uk.
Car park
Free parking is available at Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve.
Location and contact details
Woodhall Spa Airfield
Tattershall Road
Woodhall Spa
Lincolnshire
LN4 4JT
Please note, this postcode is for the nearest registered address as we are unable to get postcodes for nature reserves.
OS Map Reference: TF 206 608
What3Words: ///copycat.disco.opposing
Contact number: 01507 526667
Contact email: info@lincstrust.co.uk
Habitats and species
Woodhall Spa Airfield is a landscape of sandy soils with acid grassland, heathland with some marsh areas and open water. As a nature reserve it will become a haven for wildlife as well as a place where visitors can share in the unique and peaceful atmosphere of this former airfield.
Take a look at the images below of some of the wildlife you might expect to find on the reserve.
Geoff Trinder
Amy Lewis
Margaret Holland
Amy Lewis
Steve Waterhouse
Bruce Shortland
Damian Waters
Alan Brewster
Barrie Wilkinson
There may just be something going on beyond the nature and the peace and
quiet in this big empty space, so you can almost see the bombers trundling off,
knowing that so many of them did not come back.
Father, John Williams, was a Lancaster bomber pilot at Woodhall Spa
Aviation heritage
Woodhall Spa Airfield was constructed on former farmland as a satellite station to RAF Coningsby and opened in February 1942. During World War Two it was home to a number of RAF squadrons including the famous 617 “Dambusters” squadron. Other squadrons at RAF Woodhall Spa included 97 Squadron and 619 Squadron, which were heavily involved in the early operations of the Avro Lancaster bomber. Another squadron based at RAF Woodhall Spa was 627, which crucially developed a method of low level target marking that proved to be extremely successful.
The most famous squadron to serve at RAF Woodhall Spa was 617 "Dambusters" Squadron, which was based at RAF Woodhall Spa for most of the Second World War. It was this squadron that famously used the highly innovative “bouncing bomb” developed by Barnes Wallis to destroy three major dams in the Ruhr industrial region of Germany.
Katrina Martin/2020VISION
Wild Weekends
There's plenty to see and do around Woodhall Spa Airfield, from experiencing the unique history of this quaint village, to entertaining the kids at the local attractions.
Why not turn your visit wild, and make a weekend of it!
Keep in touch
See all the latest news and updates from the Trust on our social media pages, or search for a nearby event.
Gillian Day