Grantham Wildlife Trust donation for Hawthorpe Nature Reserve

Peter Dobney, Chair Grantham Group of the Lincs Wildlife Trust presenting the cheque to Paul Learoyd, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

On Friday (10 April) the Grantham Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust presented the Wildlife Trust Chief Executive, Paul Learoyd, with a donation of £1,350 towards the new Hawthorpe nature reserve. A fundraising concert on behalf of the Grantham Group, by the Belvoir Big Band and sponsored by Henry Bell, Seed Merchant, raised the money for this new reserve.

At a fascinating meeting on Friday the Grantham Branch heard Paul Learoyd describe the potential developments for the site and the progress towards the funding goals. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is hoping to buy Hawthorpe Farm and develop it into a predominantly grassland reserve. The land in south Lincolnshire stretches across 87 hectares, was taken out of arable production and kept as ‘set aside’ for decades. It is already home to red kites, buzzards, little owl and skylarks.

Peter, chair of the Grantham Group, in presenting the cheque said: “There is now a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prevent these fields from returning to intensive farming. If the Trust can raise sufficient funds, it can purchase the land and restore it. It can bring back wildflower rich grassland and re-link river habitats. The potential for nature is tremendous.”

Details of how to donate can be found on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website: www.lincstrust.org.uk