From fairways to flyways: former golf course reborn as major new coastal nature reserve

National Trust Sandilands officially opens tomorrow(Saturday 26th September) following a six-year programme of planning, consultation and habitat creation. The 30-hectare reserve, equivalent to 42 football pitches, has transformed a landscape once dominated by fairways and greens into a mosaic of wetlands, grassland and coastal scrub designed to help nature thrive.

The reserve is expected to provide important habitat for birds including lapwing, snipe, terns and gulls, while also offering a vital stopover point for migratory species such as black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank and spoonbill.

Sandilands sits within the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park and forms part of the internationally important East Coast Flyway, one of Europe's major migration routes. Every year, thousands of birds travel along the UK's east coast between the Arctic and northern European breeding grounds and wintering areas further south.

Its location on the edge of Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea will also provide residents with more access to nature right on their doorstep.

The conservation charity first acquired the 2km stretch of coastline in March 2020, thanks to a generous supporter donation alongside funding from the Trust's Neptune Coastline Campaign, marking the conservation charity's first coastal land acquisition in Lincolnshire.

The transformation has been supported through £2 million of Mablethorpe Towns Fund investment through Connected Coast, £1.5 million from National Highways and £200,000 from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, delivered by East Lindsey District Council, alongside the support of local partners, community groups and volunteers.

Katie Scott, Area Ranger for the National Trust at Sandilands said, “Even before the project was officially complete, nature had begun to return. This year avocets and oystercatchers successfully nested and bred, while little ringed plover chicks were recorded on site for a second consecutive year.

“Many of the species we'll see at Sandilands are endangered or rare (having a red or amber conservation status), travelling thousands of miles on their extraordinary migrations, and depend on places like this to rest, feed and breed. Creating this new area of wetland to form a part of the Coastal Park will further extend the safe refuges for these birds to recharge and refuel each year, ensuring they can survive and thrive.”

The project has also created a valuable addition to the wider Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park - a 3,500 hectare / 8,649 acre park (including a 5-mile stretch of coastline extending from Chapel Point to Sandilands) making it an important stepping stone for wildlife along with other reserves along the Lincolnshire coast cared for by Natural England, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB. Together, the network of habitats including beaches, dunes, grazing marshes, saltmarsh, coastal lagoons and reedbeds, provide an increasingly important refuge for wildlife in the face of climate and environmental pressures.

Work to transform the former golf course into a nature reserve included earthworks with nearly 52,000 cubic metres of earth moved (enough to fill 21 Olympic swimming pools or Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower 11 times over), helping create new wetland habitats across the site.

More than 35,000 native coastal shrubs including sea buckthorn, gorse, goats willow and blackthorn have been planted, while green hay sourced from a nearby Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve has been spread to establish species rich grassland including wild carrot, yarrow, yellow rattle and red clover.

Nicola Craven, Coast & Countryside Manager for the Lincolnshire coast at the National Trust said: “We were very mindful of bird breeding patterns and migratory cycles so the work to transform this special area of coast was very ‘stop-start’ to avoid any disturbance during their vital nesting season. We have also faced various challenges over the past couple of years due to the various droughts and record-breaking heat. However, now the work is complete we look forward to the wetlands really starting to transform over the winter period.

“Our ambition is for this site to continue its natural recovery over the next decade, creating richer habitats, supporting more species and offering greater opportunities for people to connect with nature close to where they live.”

Ryan Stamp, Ranger Volunteer at Sandilands who helped with some of the native shrub planting as well as other tasks commented, “Coming back week after week and seeing Sandilands’ progression towards a truly thriving wetland, teeming with plants, insects and birds I’ve never seen before, and knowing I played a minor role in that transformation, has been really rewarding. It’s a powerful reminder of nature’s resilience and what can be achieved when people come together to restore special places.”

Visitors will be able to experience the changing rhythms of nature throughout the year. In summer, the wetlands will come alive with dragonflies, bees and butterflies, while the distinctive calls of avocets echo overhead. In winter, the reserve will offer opportunities to witness the arrival of whooper swans, wigeons and brent geese escaping the colder conditions further north in their Icelandic and Norwegian breeding grounds to spend the colder months on the Lincolnshire coast.

As well as creating space for wildlife, Sandilands has been designed to be accessible for more people. New boardwalks, footpaths and visitor facilities will help people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors and connecting with wildlife.

Chris Baron, Chair, Connected Coast said: “It is fantastic to see the visitor hub and cafe now open to offer a warm welcome to people coming to spend time in this special place for nature. The Board was keen to support this project through Towns Fund investment, as not only does it offer more reasons for people to enjoy our coastline, it also provides opportunities for volunteering and employment, benefiting the local community.”

Summing up the project, National Trust Director of Land & Nature, Harry Bowell said, "This project reflects our ambition to create places where people and nature can thrive together.

"From fairways to flyways, by restoring habitats, improving access to green space and inspiring people to engage with the natural world, Sandilands shows how restoring nature can create inspiring places for people to spend time and connect with the outdoors.”

For more information visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sandilands-project