Skylarks and Sandwich Terns Among New Birds on Reserve 2026

Skylarks and sandwich terns are among the new bird species thriving on a former golf course that has been transformed into a 2km-long nature reserve on the Lincolnshire coast. The National Trust has converted the site, once known as Sandilands Golf Club, into a haven for wildlife, with wetlands, wading pools, rough grassland, and coastal scrub. The reserve opens to the public on Saturday, but the birds have already flocked in, with little ringed plovers and avocets nesting this summer as soon as fairways and bunkers were turned into shallow pools and islands for shore and marsh birds.

From Golf Course to Nature Reserve

The transformation of the former golf course into a nature reserve is a remarkable conservation success story. Sandilands Golf Club, founded in 1894, went into liquidation in 2018. The National Trust stepped in to ensure the coastal site was not developed or turned into a caravan park. Now, instead of birdies and eagles, the reserve is home to skylarks, short-eared owls, avocets, curlew, marsh harriers, water rail, sandwich terns, and spotted redshank.

Katie Scott, an area ranger for the National Trust at Sandilands, expressed her excitement: "It's been super-exciting to see the transformation from a boring old golf course – sorry golfers. It was quite flat and the grass was cut when it was a golf course but now with all the mounds and undulations – and just by not mullering the grass – so many new plant species have come up. It just goes to show that nature is always there waiting to push through."

New Bird Species Thriving

The reserve has quickly become a hotspot for a variety of bird species. Skylarks and sandwich terns are among the new arrivals, along with marsh harriers hunting over the reserve. The diverse habitats created by the National Trust, including wetlands and rough grassland, have attracted a wide range of birds.

Here is a comparison of the bird species that have been spotted at the reserve:

Key Takeaways

• The former golf course has been transformed into a 2km-long nature reserve.
• New bird species include skylarks, sandwich terns, avocets, and marsh harriers.
• The reserve opens to the public on Saturday.
• Conservation efforts have created diverse habitats for wildlife.
• The project demonstrates nature's resilience when given a chance.

FAQ

What is the new nature reserve on the Lincolnshire coast?

The new nature reserve is Sandilands, a former golf course transformed by the National Trust into a 2km-long reserve with wetlands, wading pools, rough grassland, and coastal scrub. It opens to the public on Saturday.

What bird species can be seen at the reserve?

Visitors can spot skylarks, sandwich terns, avocets, curlew, short-eared owls, marsh harriers, water rail, and spotted redshank, among others.

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Why was the golf course turned into a nature reserve?

The golf club went into liquidation in 2018, and the National Trust stepped in to prevent the site from being developed or turned into a caravan park, ensuring it became a haven for wildlife instead.

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