Natural England are asking for your help to keep
Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve in top condition for you and for the
animals and plants that live there.
On Saturday the 16th of March, we’d like your help for
a litter pick on the shoreline of Holy Island. Please come along and help
staff and volunteers clean up the beach before the breeding bird seasons
begins, and learn more about the Reserve while you’re here. The litter pick
will start at 10am at the Snook car park (the first off-road car park on the
island after crossing the Causeway, where the road bears right).
Reserve Manager, Ajay Tegala said “The vast majority
of litter is tidal, washing up on the beaches. Litter on the shore poses a
threat to wildlife; birds can die from ingesting small pieces of plastic and
getting trapped or injured. On a number of occasions, seals have become stuck
in lost or discarded nets. Litter spoils your enjoyment of the Reserve
too, marring the natural beauty and posing a safety risk to visitors. We
need your help to keep Holy Island beautiful for you and for the wildlife.
Seal tangled in net - luckily we were able to free it
“We work hard to stop litter building up. Reserve
staff try to cover the Reserve at least once each month, but would not be able
to manage it without the help of volunteers. For over five years, John
Woodhurst has been a faithful volunteer and done much litter picking across the
Reserve. This year two students on placement at Lindisfarne are helping
with a variety of work including litter management, but we can always use more
help.”
Gloves and grab-sticks will be provided, but please
bring warm and waterproof clothing. Contact the Reserve office for more
information (01289 381470). We welcome
your help and look forward to meeting you.
Ends
Notes to editors
For photographs or further information, please contact
Ajay Tegala, 01289 381470
On the edge of Britain land and water meet. Tidal
mudflats, saltmarshes and dunes combine to create a place which is home to
fascinating plants and to a food supply that attracts bird visitors from
thousands of miles away. Lindisfarne covers a mosaic of internationally
important coastal habitats, including intertidal mudflats, rocky shore, sand
dunes and saltmarsh.
A National Nature Reserve (NNR) is one of the
finest sites in England for wildlife and/or geology. Almost all NNRs are
accessible and provide great opportunities for people to experience nature.
There are currently 224 NNRs in England with a
total area of over 94,400 hectares, which is approximately 0.6% of the
country’s land surface. The largest is The Wash NNR covering almost 8,800
hectares, whilst Horn Park Quarry in Dorset is the smallest at 0.32 hectares
Natural England is the government’s
independent adviser on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is
focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the
benefits they bring to the public.
