£1 million fundraising drive unveiled on Lincoln's doorstep
Residents urged to back ambitious bid to safeguard historic sites
A £1 million-plus fundraising appeal to buy more than 80 hectares (200 acres) of farmland to safeguard a string of historic and ancient Lincolnshire woodlands has been unveiled by the Woodland Trust.
The Grantham-based environmental charity has swooped on a golden opportunity and made long-term acquisition of two plots of land around the Bardney Limewoods’ complex - between Lincoln and Horncastle - an urgent priority after they suddenly came on to the open market.
The Trust has delved into its reserves in order to table bids to buy the two sites, which will be called Wragby Limewoods Extension. But it is hoped £600,000 can be raised through a 12-month public appeal with the rest coming from grant-making bodies, wealthy benefactors and corporate sponsors - otherwise the plots will have to be sold back on the open market.
Project manager Peter Lowe said: “The proposed Wragby site will help buffer and safeguard one of Europe’s most valuable concentration of ancient woodland around Bardney Limewoods. The environmental value of this area simply cannot be understated. The neighbouring woodland is up to 8,000 years old and is home to a vast number of rare, threatened and unusual species of animals, insects and plants. It’s also of enormous historic value, littered with earthworks, warranted an entry in the Domesday Book and possibly has Europe’s highest concentration of medieval abbeys.
“The Trust is determined to try to safeguard the area and open it up for all – but we need your help to do it.”
Rare and threatened species recorded in and around Bardney Limewoods include the whiskered and Bechstein’s bat, water vole, dormouse, nightingale, woodcock and grasshopper warbler. Rare insect species include the variable damselfly, white admiral, chequered skipper, wood white and marsh fritillary butterfly. A host of rare woodland plants like the bird’s nest and greater butterfly orchid and herb Paris have been spotted in the area. The Limewoods’ principal tree species include the small-leaved lime, oak, silver birch, wild service and wych elm.
If all goes to plan and the area is developed as the Trust hopes, thousands of local residents and Lincolnshire schoolchildren will be invited to take part in the planting of up to 160,000 new trees at the site.
To make a donation to the public fundraising appeal, please call the Woodland Trust free phone hotline on (0800) 026 9650.
