Donna Nook
Parish: North Somercotes and Skidbrooke-with-Saltfleet Haven
OS: 113 • GR: TF 422998 (Stonebridge entrance) • Map ref: 15
1149.70 hectares (2841.00acres) • Part leasehold, part management agreement 1978
Habitat type: Coastland
Location and Access
The reserve covers more than 10 km (6.25 miles) of coastline between Grainthorpe Haven in the north and Saltfleet in the south where it borders the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Reserve. There are several access points off the main A1031 coastal road. There are parking facilities at (from north to south): Stonebridge (GR: TF 422998), Howden's Pullover (GR: TF 449952), Sea Lane, Saltfleet (GR: TF 456944) and Saltfleet Haven (GR: TF 467935). Public access is also possible at Merrikin's Pullover (GR: TF 445958), but there are no parking facilities. Access at Howden's Pullover, Saltfleet Haven and Merrikin's Pullover is down unmetalled roads. Visitors should note that the Pyes Hall, Warren Farm, Red Farm and Coastguard Cottage entrances are all private and should not be used.
Visitors should be made aware that the Ministry of Defence still maintains part of the area as a bombing target range and under no circumstances should anyone enter the bombing area when red flags are flying. However, most of the dune area is accessible at all times.
Access for the grey seal colony is at the Stonebridge car park.
Description and Management
The reserve consists of dunes, slacks and inter-tidal areas. Coastal processes, particularly sand and mud accretion, alter the natural features from year to year, and sand from the beach and offshore sandbanks is blown inland by easterly winds to form dune ridges. Deposition of material from the River Humber has resulted in mudflats and saltings. The advancing dunes have trapped areas of saltmarsh behind them, and these areas have gradually become less saline, allowing an interesting plant community to develop. On the landward side, the reserve is bounded by a sea bank erected after the floods of 1953. The reserve is rich in bird life: 47 species of bird breed regularly and the area is famous for more uncommon passage migrants and rarities; over 250 species have been recorded in total.
The dune system is dominated by marram and sand couch, which play important stabilising roles, particularly in the early stages of dune development. Flowering plants here include yellow-wort, and bee and pyramidal orchids. Sea-buckthorn is encroaching and forms dense clumps in some areas. Among mammals, fox, badger, stoat and weasel are all present, and three species of shrew have been identified. Common lizards also inhabit this part of the reserve. In summer breeding birds of the dunes include red-legged partridge, dunnock, whitethroat, linnet, skylark, yellowhammer and tree sparrow, while in winter the sea-buckthorn berries attract large numbers of fieldfare, redwing and starling. Woodcock, hen harrier and short-eared owl are also regular winter visitors. Within the dunes there are attractive dune-slack meadows where many wildflowers, including marsh-orchids, can be seen.
Between the advancing dunes and the sea bank there are areas of saltmarsh and open lagoons originally formed by excavation work for the sea bank. Although dominated in places by sedges and rushes, the open water with its muddy margins attracts a wide variety of migrating waders and ducks. The lagoons also provide a breeding area for small numbers of coot, little grebe and moorhen and a substantial population of reed bunting and meadow pipit. On the seaward side of the dunes there is a small area of saltmarsh.
The saltmarsh quickly gives way to inter-tidal mudflats on which grow the locally renowned samphire beds. The mudflats attract a wealth of birds: substantial numbers of brent geese, shelduck, twite, lapland bunting, shore lark and linnet gather in winter, together with large flocks of knot and dunlin accompanied by a wide variety of other waders in smaller numbers.
By far the largest part of the reserve consists of sandflats, and the raised sand bars are of special interest as they not only provide a hauling-out point for grey and common seals, but also support one of the few breeding colonies of little tern in Lincolnshire. Ringed plover and oystercatcher also nest in this area. Between autumn and spring huge flocks of gulls gather, while large congregations of terns, particularly sandwich tern, are a feature of late summer.
The reserve has one of the largest and most accessible breeding colonies of grey seals in the UK. During November and December the Trust mounts a wardening service to protect the seals and to organise watching facilities for visitors.
Management has concentrated on managing dune grassland, a substantial area of which is mown to create conditions suitable for a more diverse flora and fauna. Surveys are conducted annually to monitor changes in the flora and fauna. Nesting shore birds are monitored in the spring and early summer, and breeding grey seals are monitored in autumn and early winter. In 1988 an extensive shallow lagoon was created north of Merrikin's Pullover.
The Donna Nook Grey Seal Colony
The British population of grey seals is of great international conservation importance and we are fortunate to have a thriving colony on the Lincolnshire coast.
For much of the year the seals are at sea or hauled out on distant sandbanks, but during the winter they come to breed near the dunes on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve at Donna Nook. They are present on the beach in November and December.
The RAF Bombing Range at Donna Nook provides the seals with a relatively disturbance-free site for hauling out. The seals are not the least bit concerned by the planes. Staff at RAF Donna Nook make every effort to make sure that no harm comes to any animal because of military activity. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust manages Donna Nook as a Nature Reserve with the agreement of the Ministry of Defence.
