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Welcome to LindisfarneNational Nature Reserve

On the edge of Britain, land and water meet.Shifting sands and tides combine to create thedunes, saltmarsh and mudflats of the LindisfarneNational Nature Reserve, home to a fascinatingarray of wildlife.

This ever-changing landscape has beenmoulded through time by man and nature tocreate a unique and spectacular habitat, whichyou can discover.

Secrets of the dunes

Brought ashore by water and wind, the sand of thedunes is gradually stabilised by marram grass.Once stable, dunes support many other plants. Inthe dune slacks (the damper low-lying areas withinthe dunes) several nationally important plants exist

including 11 species of orchid, among them is theLindisfarne helleborine, which is found only onHoly Island. This abundance of flowering plantsprovides a valuable food source for moths,butterflies such as dark green fritillary and ringlet,and other insects.

Man has lived and worked within the sand dunesat Lindisfarne for centuries. The ninth-centurysettlement at Green Shiel, rig and furrow farming,and nineteenth-century limekilns all beartestament to mans agricultural and industrialactivities here. Visible remains of these activities aregradually disappearing as time and sands roll by.

Autumn arrivals

In autumn and winter the mudflats host hugeflocks of wintering waterfowl, which arrive fromthe Arctic to feed on the extremely rich supply ofmarine creatures and vegetation living in and onthe mud.

A variety of wading birds, ducks and geese over-winter on the Reserve. Among these are the rarelight-bellied brent geese, which breed in Svalbard(also known as Spitsbergen), the most northerly

inhabited island within the Arctic circle. Theystart to arrive in substantial numbers inSeptember; the Reserve is the largest winteringsite in Britain and holds approximately half of theworld population. Other internationallyimportant wintering waterfowl found hereinclude pink-footed geese, wigeon, grey ploverand bar-tailed godwits.

Reserve staff and local residents play animportant role in conserving the precioushabitats that attract them.

Lindisfarne

NationalNatureReserve

Guided walk through the dunes

NaturalEngland/AndrewCraggs

Enjoying Lindisfarne NationalNature Reserve

When walking in the dunes please keep toexisting routes to minimise damage to this verysensitive habitat. The Nature Trail in this leaflet issuitable for all fitness levels and you can alsocontact our Reserve Staff to join one of ourguided walks.

The Reserve can be enjoyed all year round.

Winter is the best time to see visiting waterfowl,between their arrival in autumn and departurein spring. Autumn and spring are the best timesfor spotting rare birds on migration. Thestunning flowers are best enjoyed in springand summer.

Taking care on the Reserve

n Check the Causeway crossing times beforeyou arrive. The tide is very rapid, coming intwice a day and water levels can rise quickly,you could find yourself stranded in a veryshort period of time.

Help us to look ater the Reserven Keep dogs on a lead to avoid disturbance to

birds and grazing livestock.

n Observe any Open Access restrictions these are in place to protect the specialwildlife of the area.

n Do not use any mountain bikes, camp orlight fires.

n Do not disturb wildlife, remove animals orplants or touch nests and eggs.

Be particularly careful on the foreshore and thedunes during the bird breeding season, fromearly April to the end of July. To protect speciesincluding the ringed plover, localised exclusionsapply during this time.

How to get here

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve is situated onthe North Northumberland coast, approximately10 miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Easilyaccessible from the A1, follow the signs for HolyIsland/Beal. Parking restrictions apply on the Island

but there is parking available at Beal and on theedge of the village. Please use car parks provided,do not park on any of the sensitive saltmarsh andmudflat areas.

For local bus timetables visitwww.travelinenortheast.info or call0871 200 22 33.

The National Cycle Network takes in Lindisfarneand is part of the Coast & Castles cycle route.www.sustrans.org or call the Sustrans InformationLine on 0845 113 00 65.

The Reserve is covered by OS Landranger 75 andOS Explorer 340.

Contact details

For more information about the Reserve, guidedwalks or volunteering opportunities pleasecontact the Reserve base on 01289 381470.

Englands National Nature Reserves are among thebest wildlife and earth heritage sites in the countryand many are important in an international context.

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve is managed byNatural England in consultation with local residents,farmers and the Joint Advisory Committee.

The Reserve is also part of a European network ofdesignated protected sites due to the importanthabitats and rich variety of wildlife they support.The Reserve is also part of the NorthumberlandCoast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

and European Marine Site (EMS).

Front cover image: Sandham Bay Natural England/Andrew Craggs

Natural England is here to secure a healthy naturalenvironment or people to enjoy, where wildlieis protected and Englands traditional landscapesare saeguarded or uture generations.

ISBN 978-1-84754-116-X Catalogue Code: NE147Version 2 March 2013

Natural England publications areavailable as accessible pdfs from:www.naturalengland.org.uk/publications

Should an alternative format of thispublication be required, please contact

our enquiries line for more information:0845 600 3078 or emailenquiries@naturalengland.org.uk

Printed on stock comprising 75% recycled fibre.

www.naturalengland.org.uk

This note/report/publication is published by NaturalEngland under the Open Government Licence forpublic sector information. You are encouraged to use,and reuse, information subject to certain conditions.

For details of the licence visitwww.naturalengland.org.uk/copyright

Natural England photographs are only available fornon-commercial purposes. If any other information,such as maps or data, cannot be used commercially thiswill be made clear within the note/report/publication.

Natural England 2013

Northern marsh orchid

NaturalEngland/AndrewCraggs

Mass fight o wigeon

Ringed plover

JJD

NaturalEngland/AndrewCraggs

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