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Spalding volunteers are making a big difference to a secret nature reserve - including a litter picking spaniel




Nature is slowly taking back a former country sports ground to create an idyllic haven for wildlife.

Vernatts Nature Reserve is just a short walk from one of Spalding’s busiest roads but bird song fills the air and it feels like you are in the middle of the countryside.

Thanks to the hard work of passionate volunteers, Vernatts is beautifully kept with not a single piece of litter in sight, which is helping to draw back a range of wildlife including woodpeckers and deer.

Some of the residents of Vernatts Liza Rogers (33938438)
Some of the residents of Vernatts Liza Rogers (33938438)

Once used by British Sugar employees as a fishing and shooting ground, Vernatts still bears some of the features of its former use.

While the mounds and concrete base for the old shooting ground remains, this site has become a beautiful meadow, which is enjoyed by families and walkers.

The nature reserve has a beautiful pond area but this is also thanks to its former owners.

A stunning butterfly on Vernatts Nature Reserve Photo Liza Rogers (33938378)
A stunning butterfly on Vernatts Nature Reserve Photo Liza Rogers (33938378)

One of the volunteers who works hard to keep the site pristine is Pete Boekestyn, who remembers when the site was owned by British Sugar.

He said: “In the late 1960s, they dug out a parcel of land and made their own fishing pit.

“Twice a week they would raise a red flag on the mast so you would know the British Sugar shooting club was out.

The Meadow, once a shooting ground, at Vernatts (33937595)
The Meadow, once a shooting ground, at Vernatts (33937595)

“They would shoot at targets put up over the mound and now that is the meadow.”

British Sugar gave the land to South Holland District Council when they later moved out of the area.

The reserve also stretches to the back of Spalding Cemetery, taking in the site of the former banana railway line, which would bring in produce to the old Geest site, now Bakkavor.

The pond at Vernatts Nature Reserve (33937715)
The pond at Vernatts Nature Reserve (33937715)

Along this area is a line of trees which are home to a number of bird boxes which were made many years ago by pupils at The Gleed Boys School and can still be seen today.

The remains of the old Spalding to Boston railway line can be found at another edge of the reserve, which is also close to Vernatt’s Drain.

Over the last two years, this whole area has undergone a transformation thanks to Pete and the dedicated band of volunteers, who give up their time to empty bins and litter pick around the area.

Boo! A bird pops out of one of the boxes on the Vernatts Nature Reserve. Photo Liza Rogers (33938287)
Boo! A bird pops out of one of the boxes on the Vernatts Nature Reserve. Photo Liza Rogers (33938287)

Pete was inspired to get involved with the reserve after becoming horrified at the amount of litter he spotted during a walk in Christmas 2018.

He said: “I walked around and could not believe what I was seeing. You couldn’t walk down there without treading on a can and other rubbish.”

During those first initial six weeks, the Vernatts Volunteers collected 35 bags full of litter dumped along the reserve. Pete even had to scramble down a river bank to collect the pile of cans which had been dumped over the side of a bridge.

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But now things have changed for the better.

Pete said: “Now I can pretty much say that 98% of the rubbish goes into the bins.

“There are 10 green bins at various points down there and three of us empty them on a weekly basis.”

Companies and individuals from across the town generously sponsored the bins. One was even sponsored by a husband as a present to his wife who cried when she saw her name on it.

Pete said: “There has been a massive change down there in a short space of time. We have maintained it and we are always going to maintain it.

“It is our place. We are passionate about it and want to keep it clean.

“What I am most proud of is the volunteers who have made all of this possible.”

Thanks to their hard work, more wildlife is being attracted to the reserve with countless birds such as a Chiff Chaffs and more.

This is documented on the reserve’s Facebook page thanks to keen photographer Liza Rogers.

Pete said: “If you are a naturalist or a bird watcher, it is a wonderful place to go. There is so much vibrancy there. The walkers love it as it is so peaceful.”

He is also hoping to add to the wildlife in the area with an exciting future project next spring.

Pete said: “I have been in talks with the council and Lincolnshire Honey and we are hoping to put some bee hives down there.

“It will help pollenation and will also be something nice for the kids to look at.”

The keen nose of a very cute volunteer is also helping to keep the reserve tidy

Sammy the Spaniel Photo Liza Rogers (33938444)
Sammy the Spaniel Photo Liza Rogers (33938444)

Litter picking on the site is helped by the keen nose of a very cute volunteer.

Sammy, the cocker spaniel, is an enthusiastic volunteer on the reserve and helps to keep the area tidy.

The five-year-old is regularly seen diving into the undergrowth to pick up litter which has been dropped there.

While he will pick up cans, bottles are undoubtedly his favourite.

Sammy has also been known to dive into the pond and drain to collect the cans and bottles.

And all Sammy asks as a reward is a ball from his owner Malc Biggadike.

He said: “We walk along this area and enjoys his work.”



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