Health & Wellbeing
Nettleham Woodland Trust volunteer work days
Virtually all of the work of Nettleham Woodland Trust is carried out by volunteers - COME AND JOIN US!
We meet once a month on a weekend day to complete development and maintenance work, usually at Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
There are a range of activities and it is an opportunity to play out in the woods, get some fresh air, exercise and maybe learn something new.
Please send an email to admin@nettlehamwoodlandtrust.co.uk if you want to come along.
We meet once a month on a weekend day to complete development and maintenance work, usually at Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
There are a range of activities and it is an opportunity to play out in the woods, get some fresh air, exercise and maybe learn something new.
Please send an email to admin@nettlehamwoodlandtrust.co.uk if you want to come along.
Work dates
During the winter season (October to March), most of the work mornings will be based around coppicing willow and scrub management. We do have tools, but if you have your own tools (loppers, bowsaws, work gloves and safety glasses) please bring them.
Summer work is more varied, so check for details closer to each date.
We meet at the Threshold into South Wood (What3Words = ///cringes.warmers.pins) at 9:00 and work until 13:00, but no problem if you can't join us for the whole session, we can let you know by email/text where we will be working.
Please bring your own drinks and snacks. Be aware that there are no toilets at the Reserve, but taking a "comfort break" among the trees is fine.
December 13 (Saturday) 09:00-13:00
2026
January 11 (Sunday) 09:00-13:00
February 14 (Saturday) 09:00-13:00
March 15 (Sunday) 09:00-13:00
April 11 (Saturday) 09:00-13:00
May 17 (Sunday) 10.00-15.00 Joint work day with Lincoln Conservation Group
June 13 (Saturday) 09:00-13:00
July 12 (Sunday) 09:00-13:00
August 8 (Saturday) 09:00-13:00
September 13 (Sunday) (tba)
October 10 (Saturday) 09:00-13:00
November 8 (Sunday) 09:00-13:00
December 12 (Saturday) 09:00-13:00
ORIENTEERING IN THE ASHING LANE NATURE RESERVE
July 2023
NWT is delighted to be managing a large area of a nature reserve, mostly woodland, some more open spaces and several water features. Our priorities are nature and biodiversity, but we cannot ignore the fact our 'estate' is crossed by a long-established bridleway and a footpath as well as new routes we created in 2009-2011. These are used by many families and dedicated walkers, often with dogs and the occasional cyclist. The wildlife doesn't seem to mind and the larger fauna spend the busier daylight hours out of sight in the impenetrable parts of wood. That said, on successive days in July, I came across a magnificent hare bounding across a walk a few yards in front of me and then a fox strolling in roughly the same place! In the evening a buzzard circulated above the car park.
With such a compact area and no roads past the carpark, this is an excellent area for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors, especially children from Lincoln itself. With this in mind NWT have created a small orienteering map for beginners, and held sessions with local schools in mid-July. Although the nesting season is largely over, there was no need for anyone to leave the paths and make their way through 'fight' vegetation. With a grant from Magic Little Grants (Local Giving), we were able to hire some toilets, and provide proper controls and punches for nearly 100 pupils aged from 7 to 16. Options included a nature walk, a basic introduction to the map and a short course enjoyed by pupils from Bishop King and St Peter at Gowts primary schools. There was also a 40 minute score event. The latter was enjoyed by pupils from Ellison Boulters Primary School and in a separate event fiercely contested by Year 12 pupils from Lincoln Christ's Hospital School who were timed and filmed for their Sports Studies assessment.
With such a compact area and no roads past the carpark, this is an excellent area for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors, especially children from Lincoln itself. With this in mind NWT have created a small orienteering map for beginners, and held sessions with local schools in mid-July. Although the nesting season is largely over, there was no need for anyone to leave the paths and make their way through 'fight' vegetation. With a grant from Magic Little Grants (Local Giving), we were able to hire some toilets, and provide proper controls and punches for nearly 100 pupils aged from 7 to 16. Options included a nature walk, a basic introduction to the map and a short course enjoyed by pupils from Bishop King and St Peter at Gowts primary schools. There was also a 40 minute score event. The latter was enjoyed by pupils from Ellison Boulters Primary School and in a separate event fiercely contested by Year 12 pupils from Lincoln Christ's Hospital School who were timed and filmed for their Sports Studies assessment.
The pupils seem to have had a good day!
"Thank you for a fun day. I loved looking at the nature, having a picnic and orienteering. It was great! Thank you From Iman".
"I had a great time at the nature reserve. I enjoyed walking around looking at the wildlife and the information boards. At lunchtime I liked relaxing on the picnic benches. In the afternoon following the map for orienteering was lots of fun. Thank you for a great day from Konrad."
Enabling the youngsters to get into the fresh air is an end in itself for general health well-being, and then for an appreciation of 'nature' in general. But it also has a longer term objective of making them realise the importance of these special places. Perhaps some will become enthusiasts and stewards in due course.
Chris Williams
Chairman, Nettleham Woodland Trust
"Thank you for a fun day. I loved looking at the nature, having a picnic and orienteering. It was great! Thank you From Iman".
"I had a great time at the nature reserve. I enjoyed walking around looking at the wildlife and the information boards. At lunchtime I liked relaxing on the picnic benches. In the afternoon following the map for orienteering was lots of fun. Thank you for a great day from Konrad."
Enabling the youngsters to get into the fresh air is an end in itself for general health well-being, and then for an appreciation of 'nature' in general. But it also has a longer term objective of making them realise the importance of these special places. Perhaps some will become enthusiasts and stewards in due course.
Chris Williams
Chairman, Nettleham Woodland Trust
Please note: Staff from all four schools have asked if they can bring children again next school year. We hope that we can host them. However, this will only ever be in a very limited period because of restrictions due to the state of the Lane in the winter months, school holidays, the nesting season, funding for portaloos and the availability of NWT helpers. This sounds rather heavy, but we must emphasise that being in possession of the map will not give automatic permission to use the area for orienteering. NWT has management responsibility and we are determined that for 51 weeks of the year, the Nature Reserve will be quiet during working days as well as at weekends. 30 hours per annum is probably the maximum, mostly in July.
Children from St Peter at Gowts have sent us some lovely comments about their trip to ALNR for orienteering:
Orienteering comes to Ashing Lane Nature Reserve! We are developing a map and gathering resources to give local people a new way of enjoying the Reserve. Thank you to Localgiving, Magic Little Grants and the People's Postcode Lottery.
Family Nature Trail in Monks Wood
Nettleham Woodland Trust (NWT) has developed a Nature Trail in Monks Wood. There are marker posts, information boards and tree leaf labels, together with a leaflet. The Trail guides visitors around the wood, gives information on the wealth of wildlife and flora to be found and shows how the trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers provide food and habitats.
The Nature Trail will add another level of interest, education and enjoyment for visitors to Monks Wood, part of Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
The Nature Trail has been made possible through generous funding from The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Co-operative. NWT also thanks Brenda Whittle for the original idea, NWT members who have given so much time and skill and the volunteers from Lincoln Conservation Volunteers and Lincolnshire Co-operative who helped install the boards.
The Nature Trail will add another level of interest, education and enjoyment for visitors to Monks Wood, part of Ashing Lane Nature Reserve.
The Nature Trail has been made possible through generous funding from The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Co-operative. NWT also thanks Brenda Whittle for the original idea, NWT members who have given so much time and skill and the volunteers from Lincoln Conservation Volunteers and Lincolnshire Co-operative who helped install the boards.
