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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/25/skylarks-sandwich-terns-birdies-on-reserve-created-from-golf-course-uk>
"There is no chance of a birdie or an eagle any more. But there are skylarks,
short-eared owls, avocets and curlew.
Sandilands, a former golf course on the Lincolnshire coast, has been
transformed by the National Trust into a 2km-long nature reserve with wetlands,
wading pools, rough grassland and coastal scrub.
The new reserve opens to the public on Saturday but the birds have already
flocked in: little ringed plovers and avocets nested this summer as soon as
fairways and bunkers were turned into shallow pools and islands for shore and
marsh birds. Marsh harriers have been hunting over the reserve, with water
rail, sandwich terns and spotted redshank also flying in.
“It’s been super-exciting to see the transformation from a boring old golf
course – sorry golfers,” said Katie Scott, an area ranger for the National
Trust at Sandilands. “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.”
Scott said there were a few local people who mourned the loss of the course,
which was founded in 1894, but the private club went into liquidation in 2018
before the trust stepped in, ensuring the coastal site was not developed or
turned into a caravan park. What was once a site only accessible to a few
hundred golf club members is now open to everyone.
Sandilands is on the edge of Mablethorpe, a deprived seaside town, and the
trust has been deluged with offers of support and help from local people, with
50 already volunteering on the new reserve.
“As soon as the office cabin was put on site, people came knocking saying they
wanted to get involved,” said Anstee Stratigou, the community, participation
and volunteering manager for the trust. “We’ve worked so hard with the local
community talking about the work we’re doing and encouraging them.”
One volunteer, Sue Cushen, said: “What’s happened over the last few years here
is remarkable and it is going to get better. I grew up around here and it was a
pretty ordinary golf course to be fair. Now we’ve got really nice nature on
this part of the coast and the birds are coming back. It’s great. It’s also
hard work.”"
Via Susan ****
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
