Sandilands nature reserve given go-ahead
- Published:
- 08 December 2023
- Last updated:
- 13 April 2025
The National Trust at Sandilands celebrated the approval of plans to create a wetland nature reserve and multi-purpose visitor hub on the Lincolnshire coastline, with work beginning in late summer 2024.
The transformation of the landscape is bringing Sandilands back to its natural roots, with open water, islands, reedbeds and ponds, complete with walkways and boardwalks. Swathes of grasslands and plentiful sand dunes will encourage local wildlife and migratory birds to settle, rest or even start families.
These are all essential elements in protecting the local climate and inspiring people to create special memories, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. With so much progress made, Sandilands will soon become a haven for wildlife and people.
The existing building on site will be renovated to ensure it is modern and eco-friendly and will contain a cafe for coastal explorers and a community space for local people. It will be further enhanced by its carbon-neutral operating model, which will help protect the planet and support the National Trust’s pledge to become carbon net-zero by 2030.
Kirsty James, General Manager for Sandilands, said:
“We’re seeing real progress towards making a lasting impact on the future of this special place.
We’re excited to see work begin, and we know how important it is that progress is sustainable and respects wildlife and local people.
We want to do the community proud, and we expect some wonderful experiences to take place as the journey unfolds."
A visitor welcome building at the northern tip of the reserve is also included in the plans. This will contain a cafe and a community space. The building is designed to run carbon-neutrally. The exterior and interior will also complement the nature reserve and surrounding area. Changing place facilities which are suitable for children and adults with accessibility needs will also be created at Sandilands.
Drawings have been released showing what to expect when the project is complete. The National Trust’s own design team formed the initial design concepts which the architects used as inspiration for making the proposals a reality. This is expected to be complete by 2026.
The architects appointed for the project are Landscape Architect ‘Influence Landscape Planning and Design’ and Buildings Architect ‘Jonathan Hendry’, both locally renowned businesses.
The project is supported by Connected Coast Town Deal, which is supporting with a £2M Towns Fund investment into the development of the welcome hub.
While Sandilands Nature Reserve will continue to grow and respond throughout the National Trust’s initial phase of work, it is expected that essential adaptations to the land as well as the visitor welcome hub will be complete by 2026.