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Advice about visiting nature reserves
Nature reserves are special places that are carefully and sensitively managed
for their wildlife. We welcome visitors but in order to help us to look
after them please observe the following points:
No collecting
Please do not remove any plants or animals. For teaching and serious study,
collecting permits may be issued by the Trust's
headquarters.
No tents, hides or
vehicles
Tents and hides are not allowed except by special permission. Vehicles
may not be taken into reserves except where special parking provision is
made.
Go quietly and follow the Country
Code
Please go quietly and observe the Country Code. Smoking and the
lighting of fires and stoves are strictly prohibited. Please take your litter
home.
» Find out more about the Countryside Code (opens into new
browser window)
Dogs
It is preferable if dogs are not taken on nature reserves. At a
few sites identified by a symbol, dogs are allowed to parts of the reserve
provided they are kept on a lead. Please remember to clean up after your
dog.
» See
below for full details
Special restrictions and group
visits
Special restrictions or conditions may apply at some of the reserves.
Please look out for notices posted at entrances and elsewhere. Special care is
needed when visiting meadows before haytime. Group visits should be booked in
advance.
» See
below for further information
Livestock
Sheep and cattle are present on many reserves - please avoid
disturbing them.
» See
below for information about the accessibility of
reserves
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Cars parked at nature reserves are increasingly vulnerable to theft
and damage. Do not leave valuables in your car and report any persons behaving
suspiciously to the police. |
The Trust accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or damage, howsoever
caused, that may be sustained while visiting any nature reserve.
Records and observations from the nature reserves
are always welcomed by the Reserve Managers or the Trust's headquarters.
The Trust accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or damage, howsoever
caused, that may be sustained while visiting any nature reserve.
- Take nothing but
photographs
- Leave nothing but
footprints
- Kill nothing but
time
When to Visit
the Reserves
Advice on when to visit reserves is not straightforward as it depends greatly
on the type of reserve and its habitats. Although each reserve may have its
annual highlights, almost all are worthwhile at any time of the year. However,
it is possible to suggest some guidelines:
Meadows are at their best from
May, with a peak of flowers on show in June, until hay time in mid-July.
Woods are best from April until
mid-June, after which the developing canopy shades out the early flowers and
makes birdwatching more difficult. The period between September and November is
of course a good time for autumn colour and, in most seasons, is the best time
for fungi.
Heathlands are at their best in
high summer, from July through to September.
Wetlands are best for breeding
birds and flowering plants in May and June. The spring and autumn are best for
migratory birds, especially in areas of shallow water.
Coastlands have much to offer
in all seasons: wildfowl and wading birds in winter; sea lavender in late July
and early August, the famous marsh orchids at Saltfleetby in mid-June, and
breeding birds from May to August.
Dogs on nature reserves
Due to the sensitive nature of habitats and wildlife and the presence of
livestock it is preferable if dogs are not taken on nature reserves.
Dogs may be taken on short leads to parts of:
- Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve. Dogs are not permitted on the beach
from 1 April to 1 September
- Snipe Dales Country Park (not Snipe Dales Nature Reserve)
- Whisby Nature Park. Dogs can be taken off the lead around Thorpe
Lake
Dogs are also permitted on sites covered by the Countryside and Rights of
Way Act (2000) and on public rights of way.
Scientific research shows that dogs can disturb wildlife and damage
habitats:
- Piles of dog dirt on sensitive habitats such as meadows and heathlands can
change the nutrient levels in the soil, changing the species of plants that
grow.
- Dog dirt on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is classed as a
Potentially Damaging Operation.
- They may be domesticated but dogs are predators. Grazing livestock, birds,
mammals and other animals are worried by the mere presence of a dog, even a well
behaved one on a lead.
- There have been a number of serious incidents of sheep on Trust nature
reserves being attacked by dogs.
- Ground nesting birds may be forced to desert their nests if dogs are
frequently in the vicinity.
- Disturbance by dogs, and humans, can cause seals to abandon their pups.
- Dog dirt contains a micro-organism called Toxicaria canis that can
cause blindness in people who come in contact with it. Many nature reserves are
used for educational purposes. Dog dirt is a significant hazard to children and
adults.
Group
Visits
Any organised groups wishing to visit a reserve must fill in a Group Visit
Form at least one month in advance.
We appreciate that this is more paperwork but it helps to ensure that you
have an enjoyable visit. By booking in advance we can make sure that other
groups aren't visiting at the same time and that management work won't disrupt
your visit. It is also a valuable record of educational use of the reserves.
Copies of the Group Visit Forms are available from the Trust Headquarters on
01507 526667.
Acessibility
Please note that some of the smaller nature
reserves are only open to members of the Trust.
The Trust is an equal opportunities organisation and takes its
responsibilities in that regard very seriously. The Trust has been able to adapt
paths in some of its reserves to make them more suitable for wheelchairs and
those who suffer from difficulties with mobility. The wheelchair symbol
indicates that disabled access is possible, at least in good weather conditions.
It does not imply that there are special facilities.
Good all-weather wheelchair access is
available at the four major visitor sites:
- Whisby Nature Park
- Gibraltar Point
- Snipe Dales
- Far Ings
Whisby Nature Park, Gibraltar Point and Far Ings have fully accessible
Visitor Centre and toilet facilities.
Electric scooters are available for hire at Whisby Nature Park and Gibraltar
Point. Advance booking is required, for details please contact:
- Natural World Centre, Whisby Nature Park on 01522 688868
- Visitor Centre, Gibraltar Point on 01754 898057
In addition to reserves showing the disabled access symbol, there are several
sites at which good views can be had from car parks or verges. These include Red
Hill, Gibraltar Point, Whisby Nature Park, Deeping Lakes, Duke's Covert, South
Witham Verges, Fairfield Pit, Kirkby Moor and Kirkby Gravel Pits.
If in doubt about visiting any reserve please check first.
Livestock on nature reserves
On many reserves grazing with livestock is the most appropriate and
successful management technique.
When visiting a reserve you may find that
sheep or cattle are present:
- Do not go near, and never touch, handle or feed livestock - if you come
across them unexpectedly, move away slowly; if necessary, re-trace your route.
- Do not leave any waste food or litter.
- Stay on the paths and leave all gates as you find them.
- Start your walk with clean vehicles, footwear and clothing.
- It is preferable if dogs are not taken on nature reserves. (See above
for further details).
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