Guide to Donna Nook, Nature Reserves and Beaches in Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire UK

The Visitor Centre and Warden's house were created by restoring derelict farm buildings. Opened in 1991, the Centre provides commanding views of the reserve and there are displays which help visitors to understand and appreciate the wildlife of the nature reserve. There is also a shop which sells wildlife gifts and souvenirs. The centre is staffed by volunteers on Saturdays and Sundays in summer, Sunday afternoons in winter, and on bank holidays. There is a field studies room which is available to schools and other educational groups.

Whisby Nature Park was opened in 1989. There are two full-time wardens who undertake habitat management and amenity maintenance and development on behalf of visitors. The Nature Park comprises a complex of small, medium and large flooded gravel pits. Some former pits in the area have been used as sediment lagoons and now form wet willow scrub or clay grasslands where the appropriate management has been undertaken. There is only one major stream, an agricultural drain of some local importance, the Pike Drain.

Dense willow and birch scrub can be found over wide areas in the north of the Nature Park on spoil between the pits. A small oak woodland lies alongside the railway, and near to the sites of former gravel works, there are very dry, open expanses of gravel. The Lincoln to Newark railway line runs through the Nature Park and intersects with the footpaths by means of a pedestrian bridge.

Snipe Dales Country Park offers a variety of attractive walks through 36 hectares (90 acres) of mainly coniferous woodland. There are picnic tables in pleasant surroundings by the car park, as well as by the central ponds and in a few other secluded areas. The woodland was previously owned by the Forestry Commission and is mainly of Corsican pine, with specimens of Scots pine and European larch. Beech grows along the southern edge of the woods, with alder, hazel and willow species in the wetter areas.

The wide ride that runs to the north-east corner of the park has some magnificent mature ash trees. Many deciduous trees and shrubs have recently been planted to give more diversity and, as sections of the pines are thinned, more plantings of native trees will gradually replace them. Nine newly excavated ponds are being colonised by water plants and attract frogs, toads and dragonflies. They are also used as stopping off points for migrant waders and waterfowl. Herons frequently visit the ponds.

Birds are best appreciated during the breeding season when bird-song and activity is greatest – at other times the pine woods may seem fairly quiet. The most abundant species are chaffinch, redpoll, willow warbler and woodpigeon. In addition to the familiar blue and great tits, coal tits are abundant. Willow tits and long-tailed tits also occur. Tree creepers and goldcrests forage in the woodlands, especially in autumn and winter. Siskin have nested in the woods; when first recorded in 1985, this was only the second breeding record for Lincolnshire. These attractive little finches may be common in the woods in winter along with small numbers of bramblings, other finches and perhaps crossbills. Both tawny and barn owls can be regularly seen, while the quick dash of a sparrowhawk may reward those with sharp eyes. Listen for the raucous cries of jays and the occasional drumming of a great spotted woodpecker. Chiffchaff, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat and sedge warbler can be heard in many places in summer, though they can be difficult to observe. The woodcock, another secretive bird, is a regular winter visitor.

There are fewer flowering plants in the Country Park than in the Nature Reserve, although generally the same species are present. Ferns are prolific among the pines, and a good selection of fungi occur in autumn.

The path waymarked with red markers, known as the 'Snipe Dales Round', provides a walk of about 6.4 km (4 miles), taking in both the Country Park and the Nature Reserve.

Large nature reserve, one of the four main sites in Lincolnshire and owned by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Toilets and refreshment facilities can be found at the field centre. Disabled access is available with suitably surfaced tracks, viewing platform and access to the birdwatching hide and visitor centre. There is an interpretation centre, bird ringing observatory and a field station for education and research. Two birdwatching hides are available on the reserve, and also a nature trail, just over 1 km long, with a shorter loop. A trail guide is available for the reserve, with several panels and trail guide markers.

MORE than 3,000 visitors peered through binoculars and camera lenses on Sunday to watch a sea of seals snake their way along the sands at Donna Nook.
Most people had travelled from across Lincolnshire to catch a glimpse of a phenomenon which has now reached epic proportions.
But none had come from quite as far as renowned Spanish wildlife photographer Inaki Relanzon.
"For me, it's not normal to see wildlife as close as we can here. To be able to get so close to the seals is wonderful.
"Normally, animals are scared of people. Donna Nook is very, very good for me," said Mr Relanzon, who was shadowed by a Spanish national film crew, documenting his work.
The 33-year-old photographer, who lives in Barcalona, has caught nature on film in exotic and untouched locations throughout the world.
His awe-inspiring pictures include Canadian polar bears and Moroccan baboons.
Mr Relanzon said: "A friend of mine from London told me about the seals here. It was worth the journey."
I had been taken to see him working by the shore's edge at low tide by Donna Nook Coastguard.
The Coastguard's eight volunteer officers watch over 16 miles of sand, mud and greenshore from Saltfleet Haven to Haile Sand Fort, Cleethorpes.
The unique stretch of coastline includes an RAF bombing range, a nature reserve and, of course, the colony of 3,000 grey seals.
The coastguard officer in charge, Graham Merrikin, has seen the colony grow from around 200 seals when he first joined in 1966.
The population explosion has meant, each year, between 30,000-40,000 people come to see the seals between late October to Christmas.
Graham: "When the RAF is not using the bombing range, the public can go wherever they like. But if they come out at low tide to see the seals, it can take as long as an hour to return. A sea fog can descend at any time – it can be very dangerous.
"We advise people to always wear warm clothing, and take food and water with them."
At the sea's edge at low tide, a dip in the sand means the distant shoreline disappears from view. Much of the vast stretch of sand is soft underfoot - and it shifts each month.
"If people get into trouble, they should head due south or towards the sunset," Graham said.
The coastguard erected a 'cockle pole' in the 1970s so cockle pickers, who became trapped, could climb to the top and sit out an in-coming tide.
"If they are nearby, walkers can always head towards that," Graham said.
Visitors are asked to follow three simple guidelines when seal watching -

* Keep your distance from seals.
* Never touch a seal – a mother may abandon a pup if it smells of humans or dogs.
* Keep your dog on a lead and away from seals.

Coastguard officer John Frank added: "We often meet visitors who have brought prawns or sardines to feed the seals with. But, please, don't feed them."
His colleague, Keith Warsap, added: "On serene days like today, when the sun is out and the wind is calm, it's quite an experience to hear the seals' eerie cries, alone by the shore.
"But conditions can change – the coastline should always be treated with the utmost of respect."
As the sun went down over Donna Nook, I joined the madding crowd on its way home, leaving the seals to bask in the last of the day's winter sunshine.
Ninety-eight pups were born at Donna Nook in 2004 – and this year wildlife experts believe the 100 mark will be broken for the first time.
It seems the seals need all the rest they can get.

Lincolnshire Coast

Beaches, Nature Reserves and Resorts

DONNA NOOK SEALS

Wild Sight

Oliver Smart

1. Lincolnshire Clean Beach Award Winners

2. Deserted Beaches in Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire

Far Ings - North Lincolnshire, Barton

LOUTH LEADER NOVEMBER 21st 2005 NEWSPAPER FEATURE

Crowds flock to the seals