Plans for new nature reserve at National Trust's Sandilands submitted

Plans for the Sandilands site submitted, thanks to a Towns Fund investment from Connected Coast Town Deal worth £2million, include the creation of wetland wildlife habitats, grasslands with sand dunes connected by paths and boardwalks, a café, changing place facility, and community space also proposed.

The National Trust at Sandilands has appointed locally renowned businesses Influence Landscape Planning and Design and buildings architect Jonathan Hendry, and have submitted a planning application for the new coastal nature reserve, which will see major wildlife habitat creation and the construction of an eco-friendly visitor welcome hub.

The conservation charity submitted the plans following lengthy and detailed consultations with partner organisations, including the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park partnership and other experts. This helped determine important elements around nature conservation, sustainability and technical design.

The plans include forming wetland wildlife habitats with open water, islands, reedbeds and ponds, along with grasslands that have sand dunes and marshy areas, which are all crucial for helping animals and plants to thrive and encourage more wildlife to make its home at Sandilands.

A range of public walkways and boardwalks are also proposed, which will provide access across this visionary landscape.

Carl Hawke, Nature Conservation Adviser for the National Trust, explained: “The new habitats will be especially important for migrating water birds such as spotted redshank and little stint and will continue to provide a home for our well-loved local bird species like skylarks and meadow pipits.