This 35 hectare (86 acre) of lagoon and coastal grassland is a patchwork of connected lands owned by Associated British Ports, Environment Agency and this Society managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as part of the Easington Biodiversity Steering Group (EBSG), comprising specialists representing Natural England, Environment Agency, Spurn Bird Observatory, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, SHCS and the Easington Parish Council.
This reserve represents a significant investment by the Society in local habitat conservation management and co-operation in the furtherance of our aim to, “Create a better Place for Wildlife”. The Society lets 9 hectare (22 acres) of land known as Beacon Field by leasehold enabling Kilnsea Wetlands to bridge into Beacon Lagoons Nature Reserve and form one large complex of coastal habitats with managed pedestrian access.
We are proud to have made this investment in the provision of this land and to cooperate with our EBSG partners.
Where?
This reserve straddles the minor road between Easington and Kilnsea, the predominant part being to the East of the road just over the flood defence bank. There is small car park with interpretation panel at GR TA405 167.
A gate leads to a path which follows the flood defence bund to a bird hide and also to a T junction alongside SHCS’s Beacon Field. At the other side of the road there is a track leading to another bird hide.
What can be seen there?
This reserve is to provide refuge for passage and wintering, roosting waders such as golden and grey plovers, knot, dunlin and sanderling.
The lagoons very quickly became a home for avocets and little egrets. Extensive open areas of fresh water and saline lagoon with muddy margins are for wading birds.
There is also coastal grassland taken out of arable production and maintained by grazing with several small ponds and scrapes offering habitat diversity with anticipated importance for dragonflies.
The grassy banks of the bunds are occupied by Roessel’s bush-cricket.
Bird watching hide
The Society has maintained a partnership role in the Easington Biodiversity Study Group (EBSG) responsible for the development and management of Kilnsea Wetlands and we felt it was appropriate to contribute £7000 towards the cost of the bird hide. The Society’s offer of financial assistance was the catalyst to move the idea forwards. The project commissioning and management was brought to fruition by Mr Andy Gibson of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, whom we thank for his hard work.
The hide was manufactured by a not-for-profit company called Green Future Buildings using a recycled wood fibreboard product manufactured near Paull. See greenfuturebuilding.org.uk for more details.
In catalyzing this installation we have:
- made up for our loss of the hide at Beacon Lagoons Nature Reserve;
- part funded what could be used as an ‘outdoor classroom’ for bird id;
- replaced a valuable asset with one that will not involve us in any maintenance expenses;
- cooperated and worked together with locally active groups;
- indirectly supported the local economy and employment;
- indirectly supported not-for-profit social enterprise in part-funding a GFB product, and
- part funded an asset that is a shop window on the work of local groups including SHCS.
* NB One has to be a member of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to have free access to this reserve. This reserve is not included in the Society’s liability insurance cover.