An afternoon spent perched in a wildlife hide, watching birds swooping low over the rippling water and listening to the gentle rustle of the reedbeds, is about as close to complete relaxation as it’s possible to get.  For walkers, cyclists, families and friends alike, the Far Ings National Nature Reserve is a tranquil haven to reconnect with nature, breathe the fresh Lincolnshire air, and escape.

Springtime and autumn offers an ever-changing spectacle of migration, with pipits, swallows, swifts, starlings, waders and wildfowl moving along the Humber Estuary.  Summertime is a delight of wildfowl, wading birds and insects including dragonflies and damselflies, with the reedbeds acting as important roosts for swallows and martins in the late summer.  Autumn and winter is arguably the highlight of the calendar, though, when a keen eye can spot redshanks, black-tailed godwits, skeins of pink-footed geese, and even the diminutive teal.

Follow one of the suggested walks around the site and you can stumble across grazing sheep in the meadows of Ness End Farm, forage for blackberries in the hedgerow, or even listen out for the elusive bittern in the double-decker wildlife hide in the centre of the nature reserve.  The perfect adventure in the natural Lincolnshire landscape, and a nature reserve that appears to have been established for hundreds of years.

However, the tranquil waters are actually a series of flooded clay pits, a legacy of the brick and tile industry and an important connection to the site’s industrial past.  Through extensive renovation of the site, and ongoing management from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Far Ings is now flooded with open water, surrounded by reedbeds, grassland, hedgerows and scrub, and most importantly teeming with wildlife.  To appreciate the diversity of wildlife that calls Far Ings home, and to understand the heritage of the site, the Education Team at Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is on hand to paint a picture of the past.  During Heritage Open Days 2018, the team is offering an exclusive guided walk of the reserve, to gain an insight into how the site is managed and has developed over the years.  This walk will take place on Saturday, September 8 at 11.00am and is free of charge, although booking is essential on 01652 637055.

Whether you’re new to the area, or have visited many times, come and discover (or rediscover) the fascinating natural heritage on your doorstep.