Bird walk a great success

You may have noticed that last month we had a guided walk led by Graham Bell. Weather on the day looked like it could turn wet however we all plowed on and had a lovely walk. Walking down the Crooked Lonnen Graham encouraged us to stop and appreciate even the most common species. He told us all about the common daisy, doves and pigeons among others and we came to the understanding that everything really does have an interesting story attached it. Following round the wagon way we came to the new Lough hide which provided a welcomed stop. Here we were treated to grand views of tufted duck, little grebe and swallows and martins playing in the reeds. A brief look at some of the wildflowers on the way round to the Straight Lonnen and it was brilliant to hear about the grass of Parnassus and stumble upon a garden tiger moth almost as if Graham had placed it there on the path to find.

The new Lough hide - a mid way point to our walk.

Graham showing birds foot trefoil to he group and demonstrating where the name comes from.

Thank you to Graham Bell for guiding the walk

LNNR Events updated

The new events programme is now up on the events page of the blog. There's plenty to do over the summer holidays and even a chance to get stuck in with some practical tasks on the reserve. Booking may be required and you'll find all the information needed on the events page. Hope to see you there.

15th April: Special Event Tomorrow

Reserve staff and volunteers are holding a special Easter Family Craft Event tomorrow at the Window on Wild Lindisfarne. Here you can get stuck into making your own flapping lapwings, little terns and lobster door guards. The event is free!

The Window on Wild Lindisfarne

Lobster and lapwing welcoming you to our previous craft event, which was a great success

Visitors enjoying views of the birds on the scrape from inside the building

There will also be activities like Easter wordsearches, Bird Bingo and more!

Everyone is welcome to drop-in anytime between 11.00 and 13.00, please see the Events page for more information about events on the Reserve.

17th March: A "successful unsuccessful litter pick"

Reserve staff were recently contacted by a student at Cranmer Hall Theological College, Laura, who organised a litter pick on Holy Island to help remove tidal litter that is washed up on the Reserve's shores as part of a community outreach event. 

Laura has kindly written an article for us documenting this trip and the group's motivation for doing so:

When I say the words “trainee vicar” to you, what do you think of? A balding, middle-aged man in ill-fitting black robes, stuttering and stumbling over a poorly prepared sermon while a scattered congregation of nine or ten elderly folk struggle to stay awake? A group of over-enthusiastic hopefuls shoving flyers and tracts into the faces of unsuspecting pedestrians who are trying desperately to avoid eye-contact? Or maybe just an everyman wearing a dog-collar and an L-plate?

Would the words “litter-pick” cross your mind? I don’t mean just picking a crisp packet off the pavement on your way home from church – I’m talking about sturdy walking boots, big black sacks, fancy litter-picking gadgets and a whole coastline littered with…well, litter.  Well, when a group of 5 trainee vicars from Cranmer Hall, Durham, arranged a trip to Lindisfarne to get involved in the community, this is exactly what we planned to do (along with other activities which ranged from teaching at a school to blessing animals in the market square…but those are stories for another time).

Before I tell you about our trash-filled trek, I hope you don’t mind if I explain a bit more about our motivation for doing the litter-pick.

When we first spoke to Paul Collins, the vicar of St Mary’s Church on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, about what he’d like us to do on our community outreach weekend in March, he told us he’d like us to do something that encouraged both locals and visitors to appreciate the natural beauty of the Island.  If you’ve ever been to Lindisfarne, you’ll understand what he means. The shell-strewn shores and patchwork farmlands are framed by a vast stretch of ocean and an endless sky. The lonely sand-dunes on the north of the Island seem, at a first glance, to be a desolate wilderness, but the long grasses are the hiding-place of a variety of flora and fauna. You can hear the eerie cries of the seals from their resting places around the Island, and a symphony of bird-calls from the avian visitors. Lindisfarne is, in its own desolate and wild way, an extremely beautiful and peaceful place.

Shoreline of Lindisfarne NNR (James Durrant)

Tidal borne litter is, however, a major hazard – both to the beauty of the Island and to the wildlife who make their homes there. While the wonderful folk of Lindisfarne NNR do a fantastic job of preserving the natural state of the Island, the daily drop-off of debris from the tides of the North Sea means that keeping the beaches clean is an endless task. One of the best ways to show your appreciation of nature is to help care for it – and that’s what one pair from the Cranmer crew decided to do. So, on the 8^th March 2014 at 10am, my partner-in-picking and I set off with the litter-picking gear that the NNR very kindly provided for us and went to find our team of volunteers.

Now, I’d love to tell you that we managed to build a huge network of support and had hundreds of people turning up on the day, fighting over the 6 litter-pickers and eager to save the planet.  As you may have gathered from the title of this blog, however, the turnout wasn’t exactly terrific – late advertising on our part and a high tide meant that the total number of volunteers was 2. Including us.

A happy litter picker! (James Durrant)

Unperturbed by this little setback and determined to go through with our plan, we wandered around the town in a brave attempt to build up a following of vistors who were inspired by our efforts and/or felt sorry for us. When we got to the edge of town the total number of volunteers remained at 2 (including us), so we set off for the beach near Emmanuel Head on the north shore of the Island and managed to fill almost 2 bags with plastic bags, drinks bottles, half an orange buoy, a few bags of dog waste and an assortment of unidentifiable objects.  It was only when the bags started to split and we had to use the spare ones to reinforce them that we decided to call it a day.

Now, I know that 2 bags of litter is a tiny drop in a huge ocean of trash, but I wouldn’t say the pick was entirely unsuccessful. For one, 2 bags is better than nothing! Every crisp packet you pick off the pavement is one less crisp packet on the pavement. We also had loads of fun – litter picking is hard work but it’s a great way to build up team spirit (even if it’s just a team of two people!) and you feel really satisfied afterwards. The plastic bag you took off the beach might have been a deathtrap for a curious gannet, so you’re making a lifetime of difference.

So, if you’re planning a litter-pick, go for it! It’s really easy to organise – just contact the environmental guys in the area you’re interested in as they’ll be super-keen for you to help out and give you loads of guidance. Make sure you get a group together in advance too. Then it’s just a case of turning up on the day and picking up as much litter as you can carry – but remember you have to carry it back too!  If trainee vicars from Durham can do it, then so can you!

Litter-laden at Emmanuel Head, Holy Island (James Durrant)

3rd February: Fenham-le-Moor birdwatch

Sunday 2nd February saw another successful birdwatching event from the Fenham-Le-Moor hide. Reserve warden Laura helped show visitors how special Lindisfarne NNR really is by pointing out why the mudflats are so important as a food source to wintering birds.

Great views of the grey plover, one of the Reserve's winter VIPs, were seen

Highlights include grey plover feeding close to the edge of the saltmarsh, 60 pintail and over 150 shelduck.

It was interesting to meet some local people at this drop-in event - all visitors who attended the live within 15 miles of the NNR and had visited the hide before, but had come out specifically for this birdwatch. Please do come along to our next drop-in birdwatch: Sunday 16th March at Budle Bay, 11.30am to 1.00pm. Full details are on our Events page.

Thanks to our volunteer David who came to help out and was happy for all to look through his telescope at the birds of the Flats.

10th January: Events for the New Year

It's time to blast away the cobwebs at Lindisfarne NNR! It's back to work after New Year on the Reserve which means looking to the year ahead and planning events for the upcoming months.

Reserve team have organised some drop-in events for the next few months:

On February 2nd a drop-in birdwatch is being held at the Fenham-Le-Moor hide - join us for your last chance to see light-bellied Brent geese and wading birds from our two-storey hide.

On February 19th you can bring the kids to 'Build-A-Bird' at the Window on Wild Lindisfarne for half-term - create fun craft versions of the birds you can see outside the Window.

Make your own flapping lapwing...

...and sandy shelduck card!

Join us on March 16th  for our birdwatch at Budle Bay - this is a great chance to see any late leaving wintering birds, and maybe even spot some early spring migrants!

You can see full details on our dedicated Events page, keep checking back for new events being added. All of our events are free.

16th November: Winter Birdwatch Event A Success

We had a very successful event on Saturday 16th November at the Fenham-Le-Moor hide. This was our penultimate Birdwatch event, which went very well with some fantastic bird species seen very close to the hide!

Visitors enjoying the views of our wintering birds at the Fenham-Le-Moor Event

Highlights included almost 50 Pintail, a Peregrine which caused quite a fuss among the waders, great views of Grey plover  and around 3000 Wigeon.

A stunning Drake Pintail, taken on Lindisfarne NNR

Another highlight was great views of ten light-bellied Brent geese feeding and interacting right in front of the hide - they can be very noisy!

Lindisfarne's wintering Light-bellied Brent geese in flight

We have one final Birdwatch Event planned before the end of the year, on 1st December at Budle Bay (details on the Events page). Winter seems to be flying by (no pun intended) so don't miss this event, a great chance to see the winter birds of Lindisfarne NNR at their peak.

26th and 27th October: Graham Bell's Winter Birdwatch

At the beginning of October half-term, Graham Bell, a local bird expert, delighted visitors to the Window on Wild Lindisfarne with his extensive bird knowledge and identification skills.

Graham showing visitors some amazing views of Teal, one of our wintering ducks, through the telescope

Graham's bird 'calls' are second to none, managing to surprise visitors who actually thought there were birds in the building with us!

Graham will now be volunteering regularly as a guide in the Window on Wild Lindisfarne - if you are visiting Holy Island please do make sure you visit the building as he or another member of our team may well be there to help/answer your questions.

5th October: First Autumn Birdwatch drop-in event a success

Our first drop-in event of the Autumn went very well, with lots of visitors coming to the large hide at Fenham-Le-Moor to view Lindisfarne's spectacular migratory winter birds.

Mass flight of wigeon - many large flocks like this were spotted from the hide

Many different species were seen, including large groups of light-bellied Brent, Barnacle and Pink-footed geese, Curlew, Redshank and Shelduck to name a few. 

In addition to the array of birds, hundreds of grey seals were spotted lounging on the sandbar before the tide came in. It was great to watch their courting behaviour and hear them calling to one another from such a short distance.

Our next drop-in event is Saturday 19th October, from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm at Budle Bay. Meet at the Budle Bay layby by the white railings. A special addition to this drop-in will be John Steele on hand to help you learn more about sketching the birds you will see. More information on our Events page.

6th September: "Fire of the North" an amazing success!

Well, what a truly fantastic event the first Fire of the North turned out to be!

The leader of the walk and talk, John Woodhurst, was delighted with the huge turnout for the walk on Wednesday, the biggest group the NNR team has led this year! In addition to Natural England's official walk on Holy Island, groups turned out at Seahouses, Bamburgh and other places along the North Northumberland Coast to view St Cuthbert's beacon being lit - local people would not be disappointed, as great views of the fire on the Inner Farne could be seen up and down the coast.

The local papers had full page spreads printed about the event and on Wednesday afternoon, John also recorded an interview with Anne Leuchars from BBC Radio Newcastle's Drivetime show - you can catch him on BBC iPlayer!

Beautiful evening with the silhouette of the Lookout on Wild Lindisfarne and Priory against the dusk sky 

John was mid-miracle when the shout was raised that the beacon was ablaze, to everyone's delight. The beacon - a large bonfire lit by David Steel, National Trust's Head Ranger of the Farne Islands NNR, and his wardens - was huge and was reflected off the side of the white lighthouse on Inner Farne, adding to the spectacle. 

Part of the group, listening intently to John's tales of Cuthbert, before the beacon was lit

The Beacon on Inner Farne, as seen from Seahouses. What an amazing view!

Everyone who attended the event was so pleased they did and absolutely loved the talk, with the amazing atmosphere on Lindisfarne NNR at dusk adding to the experience.

Thank you so much to John, whose endless enthusiasm for Cuthbert and the history of Lindisfarne keeps visitors enraptured. John is running a final St Cuthbert walk on Wednesday 11th September - details on our Events page. Please do come along to hear even more about this amazing Saint!

Special thanks also to David Steel and his National Trust team on the Farnes for the crucial lighting of the beacon and supplying the firewood.

4th September: Special event - now fully booked

Don’t forget, Reserve staff and volunteers are holding a spectacular new event tonight! The 'Fire of the North' is a unique joint venture between Natural England and the National Trust to celebrate the North East’s patron Saint, St Cuthbert.

St Cuthbert's Island, off Holy Island

Two National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are coming together on Wednesday September 4 to celebrate St Cuthbert, known as the “Fire of the North”, with a memorial beacon on the Inner Farne. With the Lindisfarne Gospels - dedicated to Cuthbert - currently on display in Durham, Natural England and the National Trust are celebrating their links with Northumberland’s very own Saint. Cuthbert spent much of his life on what is now Lindisfarne NNR and, as a hermit, retreated to the Farne Islands NNR.

Said Andrew Craggs, Senior Reserve Manager on Lindisfarne:

“Our volunteer warden John Woodhurst leads walks and talks for us on Cuthbert and his local links, and we like to stress Cuthbert the man and his strong attachment to the animal world and the natural environment. Chatting with John one day we came up with the idea of re-enacting the moment when monks on the Inner Farne announced the death of Cuthbert by signalling to monks on Lindisfarne.”

Sunset looking towards Holy Island - hopefully dusk tonight will be equally as stunning!

John, who is also a local historian, takes up the story:

“It seems strange “celebrating” a death but Cuthbert was probably bigger and more famous in death than life – we have only to think of the Lindisfarne Gospels and Durham Cathedral, both dedicated to Cuthbert. We missed the March date so we’re now going ahead with our event on September 4 which is another date in the calendar when Cuthbert is celebrated. It also ties in nicely with the Lindisfarne Gospels being in Durham”.

The event will see David Steel - Head Ranger on the Farne Islands - and his wardens lighting a fire on the Inner Farne on the evening of September 4. It is hoped the fire will be seen all along the North Northumbrian coast.

The Lindisfarne NNR team can announce that this event is now fully booked, however you can still look out for the beacon on the Inner Farne from all along the coast! Watch out for it between 8.30 - 9pm tonight.

24th July: This weekend's events

This Saturday 27th July, join Reserve warden Laura as she carries out a seawatch from the North Shore of the Island. This is part of ERIC North East and ORCA's Big Watch Weekend, recording whales, dolphins and porpoises across the entire North East coast - more information at ERIC's Big Watch Weekend page. Please feel free to come and join in!

Drop in anytime from 10am to 4pm at Emmanuel Head - when you reach Lindisfarne Castle, follow the path along the coast to the left until you reach the triangular beacon on the shore.

View of Emmanuel Point from Sandham Bay

On Sunday 28th July, our volunteer warden and local historian John will be leading his fantastic Lost Buildings of Lindisfarne walk from 1pm to 3pm. The last Lost Buildings walk was hugely successful and popular, with some attendees returning to hear more from John on his St Cuthbert's walk! You will learn so much about the history of the Island and the local cultures in days gone by, and learn the story of some often overlooked architectural features on the Island.

Places are limited and booking is essential for this event, details of how to book are on our Events page.

John's previous Lost Buildings of Lindisfarne walk

Successful Official Opening Event and Wild Education Day!

The Window on Wild Lindisfarne building was officially opened on Thursday 11th July in a ceremony where Lady Rose Crossman, the owner of the land on which the Window on Wild Lindisfarne is built, was invited to formally open the building. The ceremony was also presented by Richard Patterson, the chair of the Holy Island Development Trust, and Natural England's Director of Access and Engagement, Liz Newton. It was fantastic to see the building completed and open for everyone to visit, with a great turnout of locals and visitors to watch the ceremony.

Pupils and teachers from three local First Schools were also invited to the ceremony and to a special programme of fun activities, as the first formal event held in the Window on Wild Lindisfarne and in its sister building, the Lookout on Wild Lindisfarne. 

The building is open! From L-R: Dick Patterson, Lady Rose Crossman, and Liz Newton.

The purpose of the stunning Window on Wild Lindisfarne is to provide a hub for visitors to learn more about the amazing wildlife of Lindisfarne, not to mention a great viewing point from which to see birds and other wildlife in inclement weather! It is also a perfect place to hold events and educational activities for children and natural history groups from near and far.

What a turnout!

The Lindisfarne NNR team were joined by Natural England staff and volunteers from other Reserves, and our Events team who were fantastic in helping the day run smoothly.

After the opening ceremony, our Wild Education Day began! This was a great opportunity to teach local children about looking after the Reserve, to show them the fantastic animals and birds living here, and to make some craft seals and lobsters for them to take home! 

Staff from Castle Eden Dene NNR talking to the schoolchildren before investigating the rockpools

We hope the schoolchildren enjoyed the day and learned lots about why the Reserve is so important. It was great to work with such enthusiastic children who got stuck right in to all the fun activities - they especially enjoyed being shown the creatures in the rock pools, and were careful to put the animals back where they were found:

Fascinated by a brittle star

Thanks from the Lindisfarne NNR team to the children, teachers and helpers from Hugh Joicey, Scremerston, and Belford First Schools, to everyone who attended and to those who did a fantastic job of helping out. We think this is a great example of how local schools and groups can work with us on educational projects, and to help us look after the Reserve - here's to many more events in our Window on Wild Lindisfarne.

14th July - St Cuthbert: Lindisfarne's first Nature Warden

Our volunteer warden and local historian John Woodhurst did the first of his three St Cuthbert walks and talks on Sunday. It was a glorious day and we certainly gained a different perspective on Lindisfarne's best loved saint.

John explaining the Anglo-Saxon roots of St. Mary's church and the inspiration for the 12th Century Lindisfarne Priory

John writes:

"I always enjoy talking to people about Cuthbert and making them realise that far from being just another saint with a halo to unpack, there's a real man behind all the miracle stories. Not only that but a genuinely likable man of many talents - at home both with kings and princesses and bishops and abbesses, AND with ordinary folk in the "mountainy villages" he might be out travelling in for weeks at a time. Dangerous places to be in those days with wild boar, wolves etc wandering about - no dragons though! Cuthbert was also a man who sailed with other monks often in severe weather and in primitive craft, not just (!) to the Farnes but as far afield as St Abbs, Coquet Island and even Pictland! When he became a hermit on the Farnes he insisted on building his own dwellings, and growing his own crops. So a very practical and strong man still best known for his love of the natural world and interaction with the animal kingdom. I gave as many examples of animal-related stories as possible - domestic animals (horses, sheep and cattle), wild animals (otters, eagles and salmon), and a range of birds (ravens, geese, the famous Cuddy's duck and cormorants) to show that in many ways Cuthbert was truly Lindisfarne's first Nature Reserve Warden. By the end of our walk I think everyone agreed I'd made a good case for this, and they went away feeling they'd got much closer to Cuthbert as a person and friend rather than a distant saint. I look forward to telling the tale again so if you missed this check our Events for other dates - hope to see you then."

Hearing about the history of St Cuthbert's Island, Cuthbert's famous bolthole just off Holy Island

John's walk was so informative, revealing a side to Cuthbert that is perhaps not as widely 'preached' as it should be! It was fascinating to hear the many stories of his encounters with wildlife, and how these stories may have originated and developed through time. It's inspiring to think that Cuthbert, not only one of the most well-known and loved saints in the area, laid down the first rules to protect Lindisfarne's beautiful landscape and wildlife, making it all the more important that we continue what Cuthbert began.

Please make sure you don't miss the next one, on Sunday 28th July - more details here (link)

Hearing about the Anglo-Saxon discoveries on the Heugh, near where the Lookout building sits today

17th June: Lost Buildings of Lindisfarne event a success

This Sunday local historian and our volunteer Reserve warden John Woodhurst gave the first of his walks/talks planned for this season. John writes:

"A warm bright sunny day and back on Lindisfarne telling people about the island's "lost buildings" for another year - great to be back! A good crowd out, this time with an international flavour thanks to Mr and Mrs Van der Graf, and I think all enjoyed hearing about a little known side of the island's history - 9th century Anglo-Saxon settlements, 19th century lime kilns and limestone quarries, not to mention an Edwardian 9-hole golf course!

Thanks to Laura our new full-time warden for assisting on the walk. I made a couple of new friends in Lowick and met an old pal's aunt - who said her nephew wanted to ask how my morris dancing was getting on - private joke - seriously I don't!

Another thing - whilst I'm at pains to point out on the walks that I do history and not flora and fauna I was really chuffed to identify northern marsh orchid, bird's foot trefoil and "wooly bears" as the caterpillar of the garden tiger moth for our audience - impressive for me!

Hope to see some of you on future walks."

Looking towards Snook House whilst hearing about the early settlements here

Thanks very much to John for such an informative and entertaining walk! It was a fantastic day and our group learned so much about the island's history and what life was life for the island community in the 19th and early 20th Centuries.

John telling the group about a very well preserved stone cottage, previously hidden in the sands

John's next walk is "St Cuthbert - Lindisfarne's First Nature Warden" on Wednesday 14th July, and if you missed it this time he will be doing the next "Lost Buildings" walk on Sunday 28th July. See the Events page for more details. 

25th May: Visit our Hides and Nature Trail

This summer is shaping up to be a very busy one, with an already varied events programme (this can now be found on the Events tab) with still more to be added! Keep checking back for updates.

If you want to get closer to the Reserve wildlife, the hides are great places to do this without causing disturbance. New information boards have been installed in the hide at Beal, including a great photographic guide to the birds you are most likely to see here. Our other hides can be found at the Lough on the island and at Fenham-le-Moor on the mainland.

Our fantastic two storey hide at Fenham-Le-Moor

We also have a fantastic Nature Trail that takes you through our different habitats on the Reserve. There are 8 points marked by posts where you can stop and view the scenery and wildlife, beginning at the Window on Wild Lindisfarne building. The Trail then carries on towards the Castle, takes you along the old waggonway past the Lough and it's hide, and follows the Straight Lonnen in the centre of the Island. The waymarked route takes roughly 1 hour and allows you to experience the range of habitats on Lindisfarne.

A fantastic guide to the Trail with lots of information about each point is included in the Reserve leaflets. Please pick one up from the Beal car park at the beginning of the causeway, from the Window on Wild Lindisfarne building, or from the coastguard Lookout Tower.

18th May - First Lindisfarne Sketch Book event a success

Despite an awful weather forecast, the event turned out to be a great morning. John Steele is a very talented artist who captures the wildlife of the Reserve beautifully. He uses sketching as a technique of studying nature in more detail and to record interesting animal and bird behaviour.

Although it was misty and grey, not great for studying the landscape, we found plenty of interesting objects and animals to look at. We started off by sketching two garden snails that we found right beside the car park, they seemed to be in courtship so this was a great chance to view some interesting behaviour while studying them in detail.

Garden snail sketches

In the dunes, we came across a garden tiger moth caterpillar that didn’t seem deterred in the slightest by the mist and rain. Its hairs were covered in raindrops, a beautiful subject to draw.

John thought the pirri-pirri bur would be interesting to look at more closely – an unusual choice, since this a non-native species and is less welcome here! – as the seeds have such a unique shape. Studying them with the help of a hand-lens, you can really see how they get lodged right into clothing and fur with their barbs. This makes it all the more important to check thoroughly that you or your dog are not carrying any before leaving the Reserve.

Pirri-pirri bur seeds

This morning taught us how to take a fresh approach to watching wildlife on the reserve. John will kindly be running this event again on Sunday 10^th August, another chance to take part in this fantastic event and learn much about improving your artistic skill, whilst learning about the wildlife here in a unique way. More information is on the Events page.

Event Saturday May 18th Lindisfarne Sketch Book

Join John Steele, local artist and naturalist for an introduction to sketching the animals, plants and landscapes of Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. Everyone is welcome from beginners to those looking to refresh their artistic skills. Spend a couple of hours exploring the inspiring landscapes of the nature reserve with John, as he shares his passion and skills in capturing the wonders of the natural world on paper.

The event is free and some basic equipment will be provided but please bring your own paper, pencils and colours if you wish.

Be prepared for the weather, an umbrella would be useful if it rains, and please wear suitable sturdy footwear.

Places will be limited so please book by calling the Reserve Office on 01289 381470.

Event information

Saturday May 18^th 11.00 am – 1.00 pm

Meet at the Snook Car Park, grid ref NU 104 435, the car park is down a short track on the left (when driving onto the island), less than 1 mile from the end of the causeway on Holy Island.

20th Mar: Litter pick a success

On Saturday morning, despite a rainy start, 15 volunteers came along to our litter pick on the North Shore of Holy Island. Numbers were greatly boosted by the attendance of the Young Rangers from Seahouses. They identified litter from four different sources: litter washed down rivers into the sea, from sewage outfall, dropped at sea (including fishing-related litter) and dropped directly on the beach.

Comments included: “it was great to have the satisfaction of seeing the beach looking cleaner and knowing that we had made a difference”.

Keeping litter on the Reserve minimal is an ongoing task. A couple of volunteers said they will pick litter during their future visits to the Reserve, which will be a welcome help to the existing staff and volunteers who pick litter on a regular basis.

A big thank you to everyone who helped on Saturday.

The below photographs were taken by Marty Togher:

One of the more unusual finds, a watering can

Plenty of shoes were found, but no pairs

One of the trailer loads of rubbish

Press release: Help keep Lindisfarne tidy

Natural England are asking for your help to keep Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve in top condition for you and for the animals and plants that live there.

On Saturday the 16th of March, we’d like your help for a litter pick on the shoreline of Holy Island.  Please come along and help staff and volunteers clean up the beach before the breeding bird seasons begins, and learn more about the Reserve while you’re here. The litter pick will start at 10am at the Snook car park (the first off-road car park on the island after crossing the Causeway, where the road bears right).

Reserve Manager, Ajay Tegala said “The vast majority of litter is tidal, washing up on the beaches. Litter on the shore poses a threat to wildlife; birds can die from ingesting small pieces of plastic and getting trapped or injured. On a number of occasions, seals have become stuck in lost or discarded nets.  Litter spoils your enjoyment of the Reserve too, marring the natural beauty and posing a safety risk to visitors.  We need your help to keep Holy Island beautiful for you and for the wildlife.

Seal tangled in net - luckily we were able to free it

“We work hard to stop litter building up. Reserve staff try to cover the Reserve at least once each month, but would not be able to manage it without the help of volunteers. For over five years, John Woodhurst has been a faithful volunteer and done much litter picking across the Reserve.  This year two students on placement at Lindisfarne are helping with a variety of work including litter management, but we can always use more help.”

Gloves and grab-sticks will be provided, but please bring warm and waterproof clothing. Contact the Reserve office for more information (01289 381470). We welcome your help and look forward to meeting you.

Ends

Notes to editors

For photographs or further information, please contact Ajay Tegala, 01289 381470

About Lindisfarne NNR

On the edge of Britain land and water meet. Tidal mudflats, saltmarshes and dunes combine to create a place which is home to fascinating plants and to a food supply that attracts bird visitors from thousands of miles away.  Lindisfarne covers a mosaic of internationally important coastal habitats, including intertidal mudflats, rocky shore, sand dunes and saltmarsh.

About National Nature Reserves

A National Nature Reserve (NNR) is one of the finest sites in England for wildlife and/or geology. Almost all NNRs are accessible and provide great opportunities for people to experience nature.

There are currently 224 NNRs in England with a total area of over 94,400 hectares, which is approximately 0.6% of the country’s land surface. The largest is The Wash NNR covering almost 8,800 hectares, whilst Horn Park Quarry in Dorset is the smallest at 0.32 hectares

About Natural England

Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.