Full Breakdown
Sandilands Golf Course Reborn as a Coastal Wetland Reserve
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Transformation
A former 30-hectare golf course on the Lincolnshire coast, originally established in 1894, has been converted into a 2 km-long nature reserve called Sandilands. The National Trust completed earthworks that moved nearly 52,000 cubic metres of soil, creating shallow ponds, reed beds, grassland and coastal scrub. The site opened to the public this weekend, offering boardwalks, a café and an accessible pathway that wind through the new habitats.
Background and Funding
The Trust acquired the 2 km stretch in March 2020 after the private club entered liquidation in 2018. The transformation was financed through £2 million from the Mablethorpe Towns Fund, £1.5 million from National Highways and £200,000 from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by East Lindsey District Council. Volunteers from the local community have been involved from the start, with about 50 people helping on the ground.
Habitat and Species Gains
The wetland now supports a mosaic of more than 35,000 native coastal shrubs—including sea-buckthorn, gorse, goat’s willow and blackthorn—and grassland seeded with wild carrot, yarrow, yellow rattle and red clover. Early breeding successes include avocets, oystercatchers, little ringed plovers and recorded chick sightings for a second consecutive year. The reserve lies on the East Atlantic Flyway, a major migration route, and is expected to host lapwings, snipes, terns, gulls, black-tailed godwits, spotted redshank and spoonbills, with occasional pink-footed geese, gannets, red-throated divers and shearwaters observed nearby.
Official Statements & Community Involvement
Area ranger Katie Scott described the rapid return of wildlife, noting that “nature had begun to return” even before the project’s official completion. Community-participation manager Anstee Stratigou highlighted the surge of local interest, saying that volunteers knocked on the office cabin as soon as it was erected. The Trust plans to introduce Highland ponies for conservation grazing and aims to re-introduce the rare natterjack toad once pond conditions are suitable. Local visitor Martin called the experience “lovely” and “peaceful.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s been super-exciting to see the transformation from a boring old golf course – sorry golfers,” — Katie Scott, an area ranger for the National Trust at Sandilands
- “As soon as the office cabin was put on site, people came knocking saying they wanted to get involved,” — Anstee Stratigou, the community, participation and volunteering manager for the trust
- “We left the thistles this year and we had a massive explosion of painted lady butterflies,” — Scott. Photograph
- “Walking between the pools and seeing all the wildlife is lovely, it really is. It’s so peaceful.” — Martin