The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Open day at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Messingham Sand Quarry Nature Reserve
Sunday June 26th 2011 from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

The reserve lies to the east of the B1400 Messingham-Kirton Lindsey road. The entrance is opposite Scallow Grove Farm (look for electricity pylon). A track leads from the entrance to the car park.
The reserve has been created by the excavation of sand, which has left a series of lagoons of differing depths with fringing beds of reed rush. There is a small area of remnant heath supporting heather, petty whin and other heathland flora.
Woodland, grassland and marsh add varied habitats and support a vast array of flora including 6 orchid species. The richness of wildlife reflects this diversity of habitat and includes more than 180 species of bird (over 70 of which breed), 20 species of butterfly, over 250 species of moth, more than 16 species of dragonfly and over 100 species of bee and wasp.

Other attractions include;
* East of England Optics - displaying & demonstrating binoculars & telescopes
* Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust stall
* Plant stall
* Pond Dipping
* Guided walks

It looks as if the weather should be perfect for a visit to this excellent reserve!

Roy

Eddie Gaunt, Chairman of the Scunthorpe LWT members group, reports that the Open Day
at Messingham was a great success with the attendance up 20% on last year.

Congratulations to all those concerned for their stirling work in maintaining the reserve and for the efforts put in by the volunteers today.

Roy