Nettleham Woodland Trust
Our community group is dedicated to the development and management of woodlands around Nettleham.
If you would like to receive our occasional emails, please remember that with effect from 25th May 2018 the new GDPR legislation means that we must have your consent to contact you. Please go to the contact page and send us a short message
Would you consider helping us by buying a ticket, and asking your friends and family too?
⬅ Click the logo for more information.
The most recent draw was made on 29th September 2026 .
Well done to the winners and thanks to everyone participating
- 1st prize £99.50 Mike Dobbs
- 2nd prize £59.70 Richard A
- 3rd prize £39.80 John C
Looking for the July 2025 orienteering report?
Click HERE
Click HERE
Are you interested in volunteering with Nettleham Woodland Trust?
The next work weekend is
October 10 -11 10:00-15:30
We are trying something different - A DIRTY WEEKEND!
Come and work in our ponds before there is too much rain, help us get them sorted out.
Come either day, for as long as you like, and bring your wellies.
Other dates for the second half of 2026 are published on the Health and Wellbeing page
Meet at the Threshold at ALNR.
Please email admin@nettlehamwoodlandtrust.co.uk if you are coming
Our 2026 AGM
We met in the Picnic Glade in South Wood on 22 June 2026.
The minutes and reports will be available soon.
Thank you Waitrose shoppers!
We received a fantastic £1000 from the Waitrose green token scheme.
What a result!
Work in South Wood
On Wednesday 18 March, Arborez did the last major coppicing work in the wood before the bird nesting season gets under way. The trees were carefully checked for any signs of nesting birds before the work commenced.
Why do we cut down trees in our woodland?
Most of what we cut is willow which has planted itself (natural regeneration) and grows very fast. It can quickly dominate the other species, including oak, alder, hazel and lime, which give our woodland diversity. These willows were on the ride edges, and also shade out the wildflower borders essential to the pollinators.
The tree limbs were then shredded and are now on areas of the pathways help to make them more walkable after this very wet winter. We will continue to spread out the material over the next few weeks.
Why do we cut down trees in our woodland?
Most of what we cut is willow which has planted itself (natural regeneration) and grows very fast. It can quickly dominate the other species, including oak, alder, hazel and lime, which give our woodland diversity. These willows were on the ride edges, and also shade out the wildflower borders essential to the pollinators.
The tree limbs were then shredded and are now on areas of the pathways help to make them more walkable after this very wet winter. We will continue to spread out the material over the next few weeks.
Chris Williams
The Trustees and committee of Nettleham Woodland Trust (NWT) are very sad to announce the sudden death of our Chairman, Chris Williams on Saturday 31st January 2026. We send our sincere condolences to his wife Terri, daughter Hannah, son Sam and family.
Chris joined NWT in January 2007, three months after it was founded and he became our Chairman in January 2011. For fifteen years, he has led our charity through many planting activities including the creation of Lincolnshire Co-op Wood and the continued development and enhancement of Monks Wood at Ashing Lane Nature Reserve (ALNR). In 2015, along with our Woodland Advisor, the late Rod Newborough and others, Chris was involved in donating 100 oak trees from Monks Wood to Lincoln Cathedral in 100+ years time, through the “Book of Oaks” scheme, and later a further 100+ oak saplings were planted in Cathedral Copse in 2017 for the Cathedral.
Chris joined NWT in January 2007, three months after it was founded and he became our Chairman in January 2011. For fifteen years, he has led our charity through many planting activities including the creation of Lincolnshire Co-op Wood and the continued development and enhancement of Monks Wood at Ashing Lane Nature Reserve (ALNR). In 2015, along with our Woodland Advisor, the late Rod Newborough and others, Chris was involved in donating 100 oak trees from Monks Wood to Lincoln Cathedral in 100+ years time, through the “Book of Oaks” scheme, and later a further 100+ oak saplings were planted in Cathedral Copse in 2017 for the Cathedral.
Chris was also heavily involved with planting events outside of ALNR, such as “PC Wood” at Nettleham Police HQ, Bishops’ Meadow in Nettleham and local school planting events.
Chris was passionate about education having spent his working life as a teacher and then Deputy Head at Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School. In recent years he fulfilled one of his dreams by organising an orienteering week in Monks Wood, inviting local village and urban schoolchildren to come and enjoy the woodlands, get exercise and fresh air whilst learning new skills. Over the years, he and Trustee Su Colman have spread the word about our Charity by giving many talks to local groups and organisations.
As the Charity has evolved and developed over the years, Chris has always been at the helm. Most recently NWT converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which merged the Charity and the Company into one entity, making it easier to run and manage. Chris, along with Treasurer Julia Ambrose and other trustees worked through the complicated and time-consuming process to bring it to a successful conclusion and we achieved CIO status on 1st December 2025. He, with other members, was pivotal in making our Charity financially sustainable when the Farm Woodland Payments from the Forestry Commission ceased.
Chris was passionate about education having spent his working life as a teacher and then Deputy Head at Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School. In recent years he fulfilled one of his dreams by organising an orienteering week in Monks Wood, inviting local village and urban schoolchildren to come and enjoy the woodlands, get exercise and fresh air whilst learning new skills. Over the years, he and Trustee Su Colman have spread the word about our Charity by giving many talks to local groups and organisations.
As the Charity has evolved and developed over the years, Chris has always been at the helm. Most recently NWT converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which merged the Charity and the Company into one entity, making it easier to run and manage. Chris, along with Treasurer Julia Ambrose and other trustees worked through the complicated and time-consuming process to bring it to a successful conclusion and we achieved CIO status on 1st December 2025. He, with other members, was pivotal in making our Charity financially sustainable when the Farm Woodland Payments from the Forestry Commission ceased.
Throughout his Chairmanship (he always insisted on being called Chairman not Chair, saying “I’m not a piece of furniture”), Chris has been hard working, dedicated to the work of the Charity and always supportive to other committee members.
September 2026 marks the 20th birthday of NWT and we had begun planning a picnic in Monks Wood to mark the occasion. Chris and all the committee were looking forward to this milestone in our Charity’s history. The picnic will go ahead but it will now also be a celebration of Chris’s huge involvement in NWT’s work.
September 2026 marks the 20th birthday of NWT and we had begun planning a picnic in Monks Wood to mark the occasion. Chris and all the committee were looking forward to this milestone in our Charity’s history. The picnic will go ahead but it will now also be a celebration of Chris’s huge involvement in NWT’s work.
New car park edge
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have scheduled a contractor to fell the dead Ash and Hawthorn trees along the ditch side of the Ashing Lane car park, on 5 November. The trees were a safety hazard as they were dead and at risk of falling on passers-by or cars parked in the car park.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have scheduled a contractor to fell the dead Ash and Hawthorn trees along the ditch side of the Ashing Lane car park, on 5 November. The trees were a safety hazard as they were dead and at risk of falling on passers-by or cars parked in the car park.
Welcome back, Co-op!
On 22 October, Chris, Susie and Graham were delighted to represent NWT and join the Co-op team for their grand re-opening at the Nettleham store, after a period of extensive renovation.
Lincolnshire Co-op’s Community Champions scheme sees local groups receive a donation when dividend card holders shop in store. The society has donated £250 to kickstart fundraising in Nettleham, with the total collected over the next four months split between Nettleham Football Club, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity and Nettleham Woodland Trust. Representatives from all the community groups were invited to the store on opening day.
Lincolnshire Co-op’s Community Champions scheme sees local groups receive a donation when dividend card holders shop in store. The society has donated £250 to kickstart fundraising in Nettleham, with the total collected over the next four months split between Nettleham Football Club, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity and Nettleham Woodland Trust. Representatives from all the community groups were invited to the store on opening day.
Community Champions in Nettleham
We are Co-op Community Champions between Sunday 7th September 2025 to Saturday 7th March 2026.
Please use your dividend card when shopping at Dunholme, Welton or the Nettleham Pharmacy - and hopefully the Nettleham store - to help support the Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
Please use your dividend card when shopping at Dunholme, Welton or the Nettleham Pharmacy - and hopefully the Nettleham store - to help support the Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
Nettleham Woodland Trust AGM
Our AGM was held in the picnic glade at Ashing Lane Nature Reserve on Monday 23 June.
You can read the Minutes and the Chairman's report by clicking on the appropriate button below.
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You can read the Minutes and the Chairman's report by clicking on the appropriate button below.
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Butterfly Conservation visits ALNR
Ian and Tim from Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire came out to ALNR on Saturday 21 June - probably the hottest day of the year so far!
Tim brought his moth trap containing many species that he had trapped the night before, which proved extremely popular with visitors as he allowed us to let the moths rest on our fingers.
Ian brought some pheromone lures for particular species of clearwing moth that he felt may be resident on the Reserve. We are delighted he found all three species.
Do join in with the Big Butterfly Count between 18th of July and 10th of August. It's vital that we monitor the pollinators around us, they are an important indicator species for the health of the environment.
If you get any photos of butterflies, moths or dragonflies at the Reserve, please send them to us.
Tim brought his moth trap containing many species that he had trapped the night before, which proved extremely popular with visitors as he allowed us to let the moths rest on our fingers.
Ian brought some pheromone lures for particular species of clearwing moth that he felt may be resident on the Reserve. We are delighted he found all three species.
Do join in with the Big Butterfly Count between 18th of July and 10th of August. It's vital that we monitor the pollinators around us, they are an important indicator species for the health of the environment.
If you get any photos of butterflies, moths or dragonflies at the Reserve, please send them to us.
Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2024
Nettleham Woodland Trust entered Ashing Lane Nature Reserve into the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards this year and were selected to be one of the three schemes invited to present their project to the event on 28 September at Whisby Nature Park.
Su and Georgs (completing his last volunteering session as a Gold Duke of Edinburgh candidate) spoke to the audience about "People, Pounds and Posterity".
We were runners up alongside the The Community Growers CIC from Boston, and the winners were Cherry Fields at Cherry Willingham.
Su and Georgs (completing his last volunteering session as a Gold Duke of Edinburgh candidate) spoke to the audience about "People, Pounds and Posterity".
We were runners up alongside the The Community Growers CIC from Boston, and the winners were Cherry Fields at Cherry Willingham.
Work morning 22 September
We had a lovely splashy (and filthy) morning at ALNR today, pulling encroaching bulrushes out of the lake, cutting back the vegetation around the entrance to the culvert as the ditch along the north edge of Coop Wood goes under the bridleway and making the entrance at that end of Coop Wood easier to use.
The Artist's Seat
We were delighted to welcome Carolyn and Colin Mitchell to the Reserve on 17 August, to show them the lovely bench that has been installed in memory of Andy Mitchell. Andy was a local artist who painted the natural world and his family very generously donated the proceeds of a sale of his work last year to Nettleham Woodland Trust.
The Artist's Seat can be found in the Memorial Garden in South Wood, looking out over the meadow and sheltered by the hedge.
The Artist's Seat can be found in the Memorial Garden in South Wood, looking out over the meadow and sheltered by the hedge.
Work on the path between Watts and South Wood near Beatles Pond
The July work morning was spent making repairs to the path between Watts Wood and Beatles Pond that had become very closed in and wet throughout the winter. The plan was to cut back the overhanging vegetation to allow in more light and use the brush to fill in the wet areas. these were then covered with a layer of wood chip, brought down from the stock near the Threshold by Attilla, our mower with the trailer on the back. Well done to the volunteers, a very successful task.
Work on the footpath along the north edge of North Wood
Regular visitors will recognise this view of the footpath beside the Dunholme Beck across the north of North Wood. Over this wet winter it has got more and more difficult to traverse without wellies, so we have started to improve it.
Our March work morning was spent cutting back the hedge on the north side and the woodland edge on the south side, to let more air and light in, which will help to dry it up.
The task for the April work morning was to flatten the mud as much as possible and spread grass seed over the muddy areas. We have put canes and hazard tape around these areas, so please walk on the north edge, keep your boots clean and let the grass come up.
Our March work morning was spent cutting back the hedge on the north side and the woodland edge on the south side, to let more air and light in, which will help to dry it up.
The task for the April work morning was to flatten the mud as much as possible and spread grass seed over the muddy areas. We have put canes and hazard tape around these areas, so please walk on the north edge, keep your boots clean and let the grass come up.
Many thanks to IGas for a grant of £846 to pay for tools and equipment for use at our monthly maintenance work mornings.
Thanks also to the Michael Cornish Charitable Trust for a generous grant of £1,000. The money will pay for our charity's public indemnity and equipment insurance for 2024, as well as a week of orienteering events in July involving local schools and youth groups.
CUNNING RUNNING IN MONKS WOOD
On Sunday 5th February NWT organised its first orienteering activity in Monks Wood. The main purpose of this Sunday morning event was to test the special map and the controls financed by our funders, Magic LocalGiving. Two short courses, each with seven controls, were set out. Participants then read the map to plan a route from the carpark through the woodland back to the carpark taking in features such as the Monk Oak, our Humber Bridge and the tunnel.
We were helped by families, teachers and the school dog from Ellison Boulters Primary School and one of our Duke of Edinburgh Award gold candidates. We counted them all out and counted them all back. Everyone was happy and no-one too muddy. It proved to be ideal for novices.
We were helped by families, teachers and the school dog from Ellison Boulters Primary School and one of our Duke of Edinburgh Award gold candidates. We counted them all out and counted them all back. Everyone was happy and no-one too muddy. It proved to be ideal for novices.
The area is small and the routes currently depend on using the paths. At the moment the woods are too thick and prickly for people to run through, but over the next few years many of the lower horizontal branches will be cut back to allow more smaller woodland plants such as bluebells to grow on the forest floor. So, perhaps by 2030, orienteers will be able to practice advanced compass skills away from the paths, but only outside the nesting season. We look forward to this.
In the meantime NWT would be pleased to welcome small groups of orienteering novices to Monks Wood. We also have a nature trail. Please get in touch through our contacts page.
In the meantime NWT would be pleased to welcome small groups of orienteering novices to Monks Wood. We also have a nature trail. Please get in touch through our contacts page.
Tree planting at Minster Fields
We have successfully planted 300 new trees at Minster Fields, which is part of Nettleham Parish. Nett Zero (the Nettleham Parish Council's climate change working group) has worked with the developer (Taylor Lindsey) to plant a new copse on the amenity land on the south east corner between the ring road and Nettleham Road.
The weather was kind, despite the forecast. We planted 12 species to enhance biodiversity, including flowers, fruit and nuts and some species are also enjoyed by butterflies and pollinators.
Here is the list: beech, buckthorn, crab apple, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, hornbeam, oak, rowan, silver birch, spindleberry and wild cherry.
You can see the trees from the Nettleham Road, so hopefully they will also provide interest and enjoyment to the locals who use the site.
The weather was kind, despite the forecast. We planted 12 species to enhance biodiversity, including flowers, fruit and nuts and some species are also enjoyed by butterflies and pollinators.
Here is the list: beech, buckthorn, crab apple, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, hornbeam, oak, rowan, silver birch, spindleberry and wild cherry.
You can see the trees from the Nettleham Road, so hopefully they will also provide interest and enjoyment to the locals who use the site.
A big thank you to Gusto Community Fund - we have been given a £500 grant to help us maintain the Reserve.
The Tower
at Ashing Lane Nature Reserve
Our new habitat creation scheme
Our Tower is complete!
Please be respectful and keep your distance, you never know who might be in residence.
We have already seen peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies and a Herald moth inside taking shelter from the weather.
Also an owl pellet has been found inside - more news soon after soaking and examination of the contents!
Thank you again to all of the people who generously contributed time, money and expertise to make this happen.
Our Tower is complete!
Please be respectful and keep your distance, you never know who might be in residence.
We have already seen peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies and a Herald moth inside taking shelter from the weather.
Also an owl pellet has been found inside - more news soon after soaking and examination of the contents!
Thank you again to all of the people who generously contributed time, money and expertise to make this happen.
Planting East and West Copse, PC Wood, Police HQ Nettleham 29/01 & 5/2/2022
We are delighted that about 2,500 new trees have been planted in the village, courtesy of the Police HQ with trees from LCC's Treescapes Fund - more photos HERE
WORK ON MONKS WOOD'S NORTH WOOD PATH IMPROVEMENTS
The path from Dunholme Beck through the North Wood to our ‘Humber bridge’ will be closed for several months FROM MONDAY 17 JANUARY.
Photo taken on 4th February 2021
In January 2022, the level of the path from the 'Humber Bridge" was raised by a metre. Along the edges of the path, channels have been shaped into a series of ponds which will hold the water in winter.
When the ground has dried out, hopefully in early spring, the path will be rolled and grass seed sown. Along the damp edges, a wildflower seed mixture suitable for clay and wet soils will be sown.
We hope that these improvements will alleviate future flooding from the ditch and make North Wood more accessible to visitors in winter. It will take a few months for the grass seed to grow before the path can be re-opened for public access. We thank you for your patience.
NWT would like to thank Lincolnshire County Council's Community Wildlife Grant and Localgiving's Magic Little Grants for generously funding the flooding alleviation project in North Wood.
When the ground has dried out, hopefully in early spring, the path will be rolled and grass seed sown. Along the damp edges, a wildflower seed mixture suitable for clay and wet soils will be sown.
We hope that these improvements will alleviate future flooding from the ditch and make North Wood more accessible to visitors in winter. It will take a few months for the grass seed to grow before the path can be re-opened for public access. We thank you for your patience.
NWT would like to thank Lincolnshire County Council's Community Wildlife Grant and Localgiving's Magic Little Grants for generously funding the flooding alleviation project in North Wood.
Please remember that Ashing Lane Nature Reserve was created to protect nature.
Dogs should be on a lead - there may be sheep in the meadows and wildlife such as deer and ground nesting birds should not be disturbed.
Keep dogs out of the ponds and lake.
There are bins for dog waste in the car park and near the main entrance into South Wood
Keep dogs out of the ponds and lake.
There are bins for dog waste in the car park and near the main entrance into South Wood
... and PLEASE take your rubbish home
This was the scene near Cooperative Lake on the morning of 26 May. The rubbish included cardboard, paper and glass bottles, many of them smashed.
We are shocked that recent visitors to the Ashing Lane Nature Reserve left this mess. To those people we say, “please keep away”.
We are shocked that recent visitors to the Ashing Lane Nature Reserve left this mess. To those people we say, “please keep away”.
Now installed..
10 bay cycle rack
Nettleham Woodland Trust has obtained a grant from IGas to install cycle racks in Monks Wood. There is space for up to ten cycles to be parked and locked.
In early May volunteers from Lincoln Conservation Group helped lay a concrete base for the cycle racks to be fixed to. Since then, Rod and Ann Newborough have assembled and installed the rack.
The rack is located just inside the main entrance to Monks Wood on the left in the Memorial Garden. We will also install a bench close by.
We hope that the cycle racks will encourage more people to cycle to Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
We are very grateful to IGas for providing the funding for this project.
In early May volunteers from Lincoln Conservation Group helped lay a concrete base for the cycle racks to be fixed to. Since then, Rod and Ann Newborough have assembled and installed the rack.
The rack is located just inside the main entrance to Monks Wood on the left in the Memorial Garden. We will also install a bench close by.
We hope that the cycle racks will encourage more people to cycle to Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
We are very grateful to IGas for providing the funding for this project.
https://www.thebikestoragecompany.co.uk/product/the-toastrack-cycle-rack/
NETTLEHAM WOODLAND
TRUST WALK!!!
by Freddie and Bertie Homer
My name is Freddie Homer I am 10 years old, me and my brother Bertie Homer who is 9 years old like to go to Monks Wood. During Lockdown we have visited every week because it is adventurous and we like to walk through the woods, you can take the dog for a walk there too. We like to go through the tunnel and walk around the lake (Bertie likes to pick up sticks there and use them as weapons).
Also in lockdown, because we enjoy going on a walk there we decided to raise some money for the trust. We chose to walk around the Close we live on and ask for some sponsors from our neighbours and friends and family. We thought it would be a good idea to do it on VE day which is why we decided to do 75 laps, this was about 5km. Lots of our neighbours came out to support us on this journey and to enjoy their afternoon tea . We had our VE day afternoon tea on our front garden in between doing all the walking.
After we did this Bertie was very tired, I was a bit tired too.
In the end we raised £309.
After we did this Bertie was very tired, I was a bit tired too.
In the end we raised £309.
Thank you to Freddie and Bertie and well done!
Close encounter... Ashing Lane Nature Reserve resident meets a young visitor
Susie took this amazing photo at Coop Lake on Christmas morning.
Denise Hawthorne
Local artist Denise Hawthorne has painted this wonderful views of North Wood and Cooperative Lake at Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
The Monk Oak Bench June 2019
Now installed, with thanks to our sponsors
A Forester's Jottings
Rod Newborough is the Woodland Advisor for Nettleham Woodland Trust. A professional forester for half a century he has gathered together collection of short stories which he has published in this booklet " A Forester's Jottings"
A unique insight into the life of a forester and excellent value at £3.00 a copy, inclusive P&P.
All proceeds to NWT.
Please use the contact form to enquire
A unique insight into the life of a forester and excellent value at £3.00 a copy, inclusive P&P.
All proceeds to NWT.
Please use the contact form to enquire
Drone footage of ALNR - summer 2018
With thanks to Richard Ball and Stuart Dallas.
Clean It Up!
There are a few visitors to Ashing Lane Nature Reserve who do not TAKE THEIR LITTER HOME, but there are other wonderful folk who help us to keep ALNR such a wonderful place to visit and to them a very big THANK YOU!
There are a few visitors to Ashing Lane Nature Reserve who do not TAKE THEIR LITTER HOME, but there are other wonderful folk who help us to keep ALNR such a wonderful place to visit and to them a very big THANK YOU!
29 April 2017
Chris Williams has been looking closely at the drone footage that Mark has shot, and has done some research about some of the details revealed:
"Back in the day, I was a historian and of course read about making discoveries of ancient sites by the use of aerial photography to show old lines in arable fields. Well, it also works down Ashing Lane without a lot of sunshine, although what I can see is neither medieval nor Roman nor Iron Age.
The best example is at 38 seconds on [the] latest film, where there is a good view of South Wood. The hedges dividing Monks Wood from Coop Wood (left … or east) and Watts Wood (right or west) are obvious, but there are also two more north-south dividing lines, roughly from top to bottom either side of the South Glade.
These date back to the Dunholme Tithe Award of 1844. If I am right
- the right-hand third was numbered 79, It was known as Hardings Meadow, owned by Edward Watson and farmed by Thomas Moffatt. It was 7 acres, 1 rood and 1 perch in area.
- the other two sections were both numbered 78. They were known as Far Hardings, owned by Eliza Dixon and farmed by John Morris. They were 10 acres, 3 rood and 8 perch in area.
All three were described as ‘Meadow'."
Chris Williams has been looking closely at the drone footage that Mark has shot, and has done some research about some of the details revealed:
"Back in the day, I was a historian and of course read about making discoveries of ancient sites by the use of aerial photography to show old lines in arable fields. Well, it also works down Ashing Lane without a lot of sunshine, although what I can see is neither medieval nor Roman nor Iron Age.
The best example is at 38 seconds on [the] latest film, where there is a good view of South Wood. The hedges dividing Monks Wood from Coop Wood (left … or east) and Watts Wood (right or west) are obvious, but there are also two more north-south dividing lines, roughly from top to bottom either side of the South Glade.
These date back to the Dunholme Tithe Award of 1844. If I am right
- the right-hand third was numbered 79, It was known as Hardings Meadow, owned by Edward Watson and farmed by Thomas Moffatt. It was 7 acres, 1 rood and 1 perch in area.
- the other two sections were both numbered 78. They were known as Far Hardings, owned by Eliza Dixon and farmed by John Morris. They were 10 acres, 3 rood and 8 perch in area.
All three were described as ‘Meadow'."
Biodiversity
We like to record the different plants, birds and animals seen at our woodlands, please see the detailed pages in the ALNR menu for more information.
