Neil Smith

John Haddon

Lilianna Witkowska-Wawer

Boultham Mere

Birdwatching

An attractive lake with beds of reed and sedge, and emergent vegetation.

Location

Access off Tritton Road

Lincoln

Nearest postcode LN6 7BH

OS Map Reference

SK 957 713

Know before you go

Size

19 hectares

Parking information

The car parks on Tritton Road are for customers of the retail parks only (fines may be issued to anyone who parks and leaves the retail park site)

Walking trails

Access on foot only. Follow the track alongside the drain, crossing the railway at a gated crossing. After about half a mile, there is a crossing point at a sluice over the drain that leads to the south-western bank of the reserve.

Access

Not accessible for wheelchairs, care should be taken when crossing the railway

Dogs

No dogs permitted

Assistance dogs only

Facilities

Bird hides

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

January to December

About the reserve

The reserve lies within the City of Lincoln but it is a comparatively quiet and secluded sanctuary. It was excavated as a source of ballast for the construction of the railway. It has since matured into a most attractive lake with beds of reed and sedge, and emergent vegetation. There are mature trees and shrubs, mainly willow and sallow, flanking the railway. A hide overlooks the mere to the west of the reserve.

The reserve attracts many wintering wildfowl including teal, shoveler, goosander and goldeneye. There are also many breeding birds including up to 20 pairs of both reed and sedge warblers, two pairs of great crested grebes and three pairs of little grebes. Kingfisher and common tern also breed on the reserve.

The reserve and adjoining drain are rich in dragonflies and damselflies with 12 species regularly recorded. Many butterflies may be seen in summer including orange tip, ringlet, large skipper, meadow brown and wall brown. Flowering plants of interest include greater spearwort and water-violet.

Nearest postcode LN6 7BH. Please note - postcodes are for the nearest registered address as we are unable to get postcodes for nature reserves.