As part of their objectives for 2020, the Parish Council aimed to make improvements to the Sands pond and its surroundings to help maximise its potential for wildlife bio-diversity.
In January 2020, Councillors met with Mark Schofield, Conservation Officer from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to look at forming a management plan for the area. Mark subsequently forwarded a report and the Council has agreed to carry out some (not all) of his recommendations.
The plans included: landscaping to create a much safer gradually shelving bank for planting marginal vegetation; creating glades for shade-loving native plants and wildflowers; improving public accessibility and safety.
The work that has beeb completed so far includes:
• Trimming back briar growth • Lopping overhanging branches • Uprooting self-set willow sapling
· Creating ‘bug shelters’ • Making and siting bird, bat boxes & hedgehog boxes • Monitoring wildlife
This was, and continues to be a project for the community and within days of the village newsletter being circulated with the information, a number of volunteers came forward to help start the work.
The project has moved forward with a successful grant application from the Lost Village Festival who have awarded the Parish Council £1,500 for further improvements to the Sands Area. This funding will provide additional seating and pond dipping equipment to encourage further learning about wildlife within the community. Bassingham Brownies meet regularly in the village hall and have plans to visit this wildlife area again to take part in pond dipping and other activites.
