Help North East Lincolnshire to protect nature on World Wildlife Day

Monday March 3 is World Wildlife Day when the United Nations is urging countries to invest in people and planet.

Here in North East Lincolnshire, our coastline is recognised as a wildlife haven of international importance, and we are doing everything we can to protect it.

The King Charles III Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve (LCCNNR) is a special landscape covering an area equivalent to 4,000 football pitches, and containing a rich variety of sand dunes, salt marshes, mudflats and freshwater marshes.

It begins behind Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, and brings together North East Lincolnshire’s own local nature reserve, which is already recognised as a wildlife haven of international importance with SSSI/SPA/SAC status, with the existing Donna Nook and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserves.

This is all land that is managed for nature conservation, supporting many breeding and over-wintering birds, natterjack toads, special plants and insects. The new site is the ninth largest National Nature Reserve of the 220 sites in England.

The Humber Estuary is also recognised by Ramsar – the Convention on Wetlands – which is an inter-governmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. 172 countries are signed up to the Ramsar convention, with the UK having the most individual sites, at 176.

On World Wildlife Day 2025, the figures are stark. The global wildlife population has plummeted by an average of 73% since 1970. Here in the UK, we’ve lost 70% of our ancient woodlands, our rivers are polluted and our wildflower meadows are almost gone.

In 2023, The Government’s State of Nature Report classed the UK as the most nature-depleted country in Europe.

We know that many of us care about our environment, and together, we can turn things around.

In North East Lincolnshire, we are trying very hard to protect our coastline and our wildlife habitats. We have created two unique mitigation sites, in Novartis Ings and Cress Marsh, which specifically exist to provide our year-round and over-wintering birds with a peaceful, undisturbed environment in which to roost and breed.

While sharing our Cleethorpes coastline and beach with residents and tourists, we try to encourage mindful behaviour around the saltmarsh and sand dunes to protect the rare birds which rely on this area to breed.

The notices to keep dogs on leads and not to disturb the saltmarsh by paddling through it are not there to spoil anyone’s fun. They are there to protect the rare species of birds, flora and fauna that thrive there. Continuous disturbance can lead to their death.

In truth, we are fighting a constant battle to help nature regenerate.

In 2022, a condition assessment for our specially-protected birds for the whole of the Humber Estuary showed declines in a number of species.

The Bar-Tailed Godwit declined by more than 25%; Knot declined by less than 25%; Redshank declined by more than 50% since designated in 2004, including a decline by 25% since 2010; and Curlew declined by more than 25% since 2004, including more than a 25% decline since 2010; Turnstone declined by more than 50%, including by more than 25% since 2010.

Declines are due to bird disturbance during winter feeding, reducing health and reducing the chances of them making the migratory journey back to breed and continue or increase the population. Reduced health also makes them more susceptible to disease.

There is also habitat loss, both here and in their breeding grounds in other countries; climate change and sea level rise, reducing habitat due to coastal squeeze; climate change affecting food supplies on breeding grounds; coastal squeeze where we have developed along coastlines, preventing natural increases inland of dunes and salt marsh or mudflats; persecution of species and egg collection.

But it is not all bad news – our efforts are paying off here, and some species are increasing. These include Avocets. When the area was designated a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 2004, we started with a baseline of 59 Avocets and now have an estimated 1213, which includes breeding at Novartis Ings. The number of Black-Tailed Godwit has increased from 1113 to 2951, and Oystercatchers have increased and are now breeding at Cress Marsh and Novartis Ings.

Our coastline is also home to some fascinating species of bees and plants, which are also under threat and, therefore, protected.

The Sea Aster mining bee, is classified as Nationally Scarce, and is found only in a handful of places on the east and south coast, Cleethorpes being one of them. They are reliant on the pollen of Sea Aster, which grows in saltmarsh, to provision their nest cells, which the females excavate in the bare sand of the dunes. Rising sea levels due to climate change threaten the Sea Aster mining bee by reducing the habitat they require for their nesting sites.

Trampling in the dunes can cause erosion which means the bees can’t find suitable nesting sites.

Sea Rocket is a member of the cabbage family, and is at home in the dunes and around Cleethorpes saltmarsh. Sea Rocket copes with living so close to the sea with waxy, succulent leaves to help reduce water loss, and a long taproot and complex root system, which helps to stabilise the dunes (and ensure it isn’t blown away in strong winds). Its pretty pale pink or white flowers provide an important source of nectar for pollinators. Sea Rocket is easily trampled and damaged and this can lead to erosion of the dunes. Its seedpods are buoyant to float down the coast and colonise new areas.

Sea Lavender is found growing in the saltmarsh, one you might see in dried flower bouquets. Blue to pink flowers carpet the saltmarsh in flowering season, giving it a purple tint. Another good source of nectar for pollinators. Sea Lavender is in decline due to habitat loss and coastal squeeze, as well as being out-competed by invasive plant species.

Sand dunes with Sea Buckthorn are a designated feature of the Special Area of Conservation (SPA). North East Lincolnshire Council manages it as part of the Cleethorpes Habitat Management Plan. The Dynamic Dune project in 2021/22 was the last round of management and it is managed to attain different age structures to ensure its longevity and significance.

The nationally scarce Bulbous Meadow Grass is found on the sand dunes at Cleethorpes and is also a designated feature of the Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Cllr Henry Hudson, NELC Portfolio Holder for Environment and Net Zero, said: “In North East Lincolnshire we are doing all we can to try and protect our natural environment. Of course, Cleethorpes is a holiday resort and a very popular tourist site and, as a Council, we manage this alongside our commitment to nature.

“We do urge people to think about this, whether they are living here or just visiting, and to realise that we are not trying to stop anyone enjoying the beauty of our coastline, but simply trying to allow the nature that makes this region so fascinating and beautiful to co-exist happily alongside the people who come here to enjoy it so much.

“If there are signs asking you to put dogs on leads, it is for good reason. There may be nesting birds in the saltmarsh that need to be left alone. Equally, we are not against paddle boarders but we ask them not to paddle directly through the saltmarsh to avoid this kind of disturbance.

“Cleethorpes beach is a large area and there are many places to enjoy the beach and we want people to do so. Please just be mindful that we rely heavily on nature for our existence and it is our obligation to protect it.”