Call for volunteers to help create coastal habitat

The National Trust is asking volunteers to "lend a hand" to help create a habitat for nature on the Lincolnshire coast.

The charity said it needed help planting 6,500 native plants as part of the final stage of an £8m project at Sandilands, near Sutton-on-Sea.

The trust's Caroline Killeavy said the wetlands had been completed, and once the habitat was planted it was hoped the site could open in June.

The planting sessions are on Monday 31 March, Tuesday 1 April and Wednesday 2 April, from 10:30 to 13:00 BST and from 13:30 to 16:00 BST.

The former golf course site is 25 hectares (about 60 acres) and lies under the path of the Atlantic Flyway, a globally significant migration route for birds.

The charity said it was creating the habitat for all wildlife but particularly for migrating birds such as black-tailed godwits, spotted redshank and spoonbills, and breeding birds such as snipe, lapwings and oystercatchers.

Ms Killeavy said: "This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a truly special project, creating a beautiful haven for wildlife."

The charity said about 200 people helped with the planting over the last couple of weeks.

"We're hoping another couple of hundred people next week will also get involved," she added.

The planting project is adding native scrub and hedgerows to the site, such as hawthorn, sea buckthorn blackthorn and wild rose.

To attend the planting event, book via the National Trust's website.

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