Penfield Nature Reserve, Langtoft.

A brief history and future plans for Penfield Nature Reserve.

In The Begining.

After a number of years of negotiations and legal processes May 2021 saw the purchase and transfer of ownership to Langtoft Parish Council. The land was known then as Pocket Park; being a generic name widely used across the country. It is a 20 acre site on a former gravel pit, which in a previous life was farm land upon which there were many sheep pens. It was for this reason that it was renamed and registered as Penfield Nature Reserve.

It was probably the longest running saga in the Parish Council history and was delayed many times, but despite many setbacks this is now a village asset. It has been the culmination of many years of hard work for the many Councillors who have contributed, ever since the former farm land was sold for mineral extraction. We have the original owners, the Peasgood family, to thank for their altruism and foresight; as it was part of the original planning conditions that: - ".. it be restored with areas of water, grassland and tree planting between 2005 and 2010, to provide an area for recreation and nature, and sold to the Parish for £1.00". The Parish Council at that time played a large role in the plan and we thank them for that. The mineral extraction company Hanson have done a superb job landscaping and establishing the area for us to now take forward.

It had been basically undisturbed for 10 to 15 years and most of the site was overgrown and the wildlife undisturbed. A careful approach was needed to minimise disruption, so some professional nature surveys were undertaken during summer 2021 to establish a baseline. Working parties commenced in September 2021 to open up and create pathways, an example is shown below.

It was opened to members of the public in late October 2021, an excellent achievment by the small group of volunteers.

If you could spare a few hours to help please click HERE thank you.

We are grateful of the advice and support from Lincs Wildlife Trust and Langdyke Trust.

Activities to Date

• We have attempted to strike a balance between public amenity and enhancing nature conservation.
• Paths have been established with fences and gates to provide some control over access.
• There is a further path in the northern half which gives access to the edge of the lake; dogs are prohibited so that they do not enter the water.

• There is an area to the east with no public access this will remain undisturbed for nature.
• There is a footpath along the western and southern boundaries where dogs can be walked on leads.
• We have also made and installed 5 benches and opened up some of the undergrowth to provide a variety of vistas.
• Self-sown willow saplings have been removed around the lakeside to keep some open areas, and areas of grassland strimmed with the arisings removed to provide a low fertility area to encourage wild flowers.
• Wildlife cameras have been installed and picked up foxes, deer, hares, rabbits etc.
• 20 bird boxes have been made and installed; 14 of which had nests during Spring 2022. We have had a sparrowhawk with 4 young. Clouded Yellow butterflies which are natives of mainland Europe were seen in July.
• 313 different varieties of moths have so far been identified.
• There are birdfeeders close to the entrance of the site which are regularly topped up by specified volunteers.