Former golf course becomes bird haven on UK coast
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The National Trust converted Sandilands, a former golf course in Lincolnshire, England, into a 2km-long nature reserve, attracting a variety of bird species.
The organization transformed fairways and bunkers into wetlands and grasslands, creating a habitat for birds like skylarks, short-eared owls, and avocets, which nested there this summer. Katie Scott, an area ranger, noted the site was previously “quite flat” but now supports new plant species due to less intensive grass cutting.
The Sandilands golf club closed in 2018, and the National Trust purchased the land to prevent it from being developed into housing or a caravan park. Local residents initially expressed some sadness over the loss of the golf course, established in 1894, but many now volunteer at the reserve. The trust received support from the community and funding from several sources, including £2 million from the Mablethorpe Towns Fund.
Volunteers have been actively involved in the restoration, managing plants like thistle and ragwort and spreading green hay to establish native species. The reserve, located along the East Atlantic flyway migration route, now features a community centre, cafe, and accessible pathway. The National Trust plans to introduce Highland ponies for conservation grazing and eventually reintroduce the natterjack toad.
