Willow Tree Fen FAQs

A: The main viewpoint is in the car park. From here, you can view the reserve and hopefully see the cranes and other wildlife from the car park and the Counter Drain bank. The views across the reserve are superb and it is possible to see and hear lots of wildlife.

In 2021, volunteers logged an astonishing 97 species of bird and several species of mammal just from this spot, including marsh harrier, redshank and lapwing. We are therefore confident that the wildlife spectacle is worth visiting.  

A: The volunteer watch commences once the cranes have returned and settled back in for the breeding season. It is likely that there will be a regular volunteer presence from about March but this is subject to change depending on the activity of the birds.

If you would be interested in joining our volunteer team and showing people these special birds, please get in touch with us at info@lincstrust.co.uk.

A: We have taken the decision to not allow dogs on the nature reserve at all. Cranes are particularly sensitive to the presence of dogs – even if on a lead.

A: For birdwatching and a circular walk, Deeping Lakes nature reserve is a 15 minute drive away (please note that dogs are not allowed).

For dog walking and longer walks, it is possible to walk along the River Glen on the Macmillan Way between Pinchbeck and Surfleet. In addition, there are also a number of walks in South Holland. See:

www.sholland.gov.uk/article/7606/Pinchbeck-and-Surfleet-walks

www.sholland.gov.uk/article/5670/South-Holland-walks

A: In 2020, common cranes arrived at Willow Tree Fen and are now resident on site for much of the year. They are an incredibly rare breeding bird in the UK and very susceptible to disturbance. Unfortunately, the reserve is too small to allow access in the way that we used to without causing disturbance to the birds. There is a strong possibility that this would lead to them deserting the site.

Over the winter of 2021/22, whilst the cranes were away from the site, the central track was removed and the car park raised to create a new viewing area and walk along the Counter Drain bank. This allows people to visit the reserve and hopefully see the cranes too.

We have consulted widely over the best course of action including from the UK Crane Working Group, the RSPB and a noted UK expert with years of experience in working with breeding cranes.

A: The cranes arrived at Willow Tree Fen during the first lockdown when there were no visitors on site. It is unlikely that they would have arrived otherwise. Cranes are very sensitive to disturbance. Research has shown that if people get any closer than 200 metres, they will flush them and there is a high likelihood that they would abandon the site. This means that in order for us to secure their presence as a breeding species at Willow Tree Fen, we need to ensure that the reserve is as free from disturbance as possible.

A: Willow Tree Fen is one of the smallest sites in the UK to hold breeding crane. Elsewhere, large core areas of undisturbed wetland have allowed the birds to co-exist with human visitors. But at Willow Tree Fen, the birds would probably not have arrived if it were not for the first lockdown and there is a clear risk that the birds would desert if the circular routes were reopened.

A: During the breeding season, most of the UK’s cranes nest in very undisturbed sites. Outside of this period, they may roam the countryside and form loose flocks – especially during the winter months. At this time, disturbance is still strongly discouraged but is less critical than during the breeding season. However, the cranes at Willow Tree Fen have never encountered visitors and the birds have used the site territorially right through to the autumn.

When the reserve was re-opened to visitors during the winter of 2020/21, the cranes returned in January but kept circling the site and then flying off again. It wasn’t until the reserve had been closed again, that the birds felt safe enough to actually land and use the site.

A: It is hard to say at this point. For now, we are still learning the habits of the cranes. With the reserve being one of the smaller breeding sites in the UK, they are at the limit of what we know in relation to their requirements.

However, the crane population in the UK is gradually increasing and over time, this may mean that birds will start to seek out new sites. As the prime spots get taken, they will therefore have to choose sites that are less optimal. This may lead to us learning more and becoming more comfortable with what we allow in terms of disturbance and habituation. But only time will tell.

A: The Trust already manage several nature reserves in the local area including Pinchbeck Slipe and Baston Fen, and our aspiration is to restore lost fenland habitat at the landscape scale. This may allow us to build in further opportunities for species such as crane whilst also allowing us to create new opportunities for visitors to enjoy the wildlife.

A: We firmly believe that the welfare of such a rare bird must come first and would hope that our visitors would too. Staff and volunteers keep a watch on the site and anyone trespassing on the site risks police intervention.

The viewpoint gives excellent views and opportunities to see a wide variety of species without causing disturbance.

A: When the cranes are on the nature reserve, the wardens and volunteers do not go on the site at all unless it is absolutely essential. That means that the usual work and habitat management has to be put on hold and compressed into just a short window of opportunity during the winter months.