Gibraltar Point

Gibraltar Point national nature reserve is an area of about 4.3 km2 (1.7 sq mi) on the coast of Lincolnshire, England.

Gibraltar Point
OS gridTF560580
Coordinates53.09641°N 0.32838°E / 53.09641; 0.32838
Managed byLincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Designated5 March 1993
Reference no.589[1]

The reserve is owned by Lincolnshire County Council and East Lindsey District Council and is administered by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. The reserve comprises two parallel ridges of sand dunes—the "east dunes" and the "west dunes"—separated by about half a kilometre (550 yards) of salt marsh; and an area on the seaward side with further salt marsh and sand, shingle and muddy beaches. The reserve extends for a distance of about 5 km (3 mi) along the coast, from the southern end of Skegness to the northern corner of The Wash (Gibraltar Point itself is at the southernmost tip, and marks the point where the North Sea coast turns southwest towards Boston). A golf course occupies much of the west dunes (the inland side) at the Skegness end of the area. Gibraltar Point is an area of coastal deposition—at the end of the 18th century the west dunes were by the shore, but they are now a kilometre inland.

In 2016 a new Visitors' Centre opened at the southern end of the reserve to replace the previous one which had been damaged by Cyclone Xaver. This contains an exhibition about the habitats and wildlife of Gibraltar Point. There are numerous paths around the area, and several artificial lakes and hides. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust also owns an old farm and land just inshore of the west dunes at the southern end of the reserve, again with an artificial lake and hides. Revenue from car parks assists in the upkeep of the area.

Gibraltar Point is part of the twice daily inshore waters forecast in the extended form of the Shipping Forecast broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

The reserve's importance is recognised by its various designations:

Birdlife

The reserve is home to a great variety of birdlife, mostly wildfowl, waders and gulls. The geography of the area makes the reserve very popular with migrant birds and many nationally rare species have been recorded such as rustic bunting, iberian chiffchaff, siberian stonechat and subalpine warbler, making it one of the top birding sites in the UK.

Birds breeding at the site include:

The following overwinter:

References
  1. "Gibraltar Point". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
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