Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Plans New Reserve at Hawthorpe

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is working on plans to transform one of the largest remaining grassland habitats in the county into a nature reserve. With a fundraising goal of £1.4 million, the Trust aims to purchase a 215-acre site near Hawthorpe to secure its place as a haven for wildlife, wildflowers and wetland species.

The area, which Trust chief executive Paul Learoyd has characterised as a “hidden gem,” is situated in one of the most nature-depleted landscapes in Lincolnshire. A generous £1 million grant from the waste firm, Biffa, has expedited fundraising efforts, propelling their mission further.

Learoyd voiced his delight at the success of the fundraising initiative and his confidence in the site’s prospective future as a nature reserve. This specific land, which has not been subjected to farming for over four decades, is already home to a rich variety of species, including, but not limited to, skylarks and short-eared owls. Learoyd underscored the site’s distinctiveness to Lincolnshire and the potential it holds as a public nature reserve.

Rachel Maidment, Biffa’s Grants Manager, accentuated the potential paybacks of the project, emphasising the advantages it will bring for nature preservation, climate resilience, as well as for the local communities.

This story is based on original reporting by the BBC.