lisa.curtis@student.anglia.ac.uk

Teaching packages from Key Stage 1 right through to AS and A2 level are available, making it the perfect place for children and older students to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area.

Officially-recognised activities, knowledgeable staff and endless opportunities to study animal, plant and insect life up close combine to almost make Gibraltar Point’s Wash Study Centre a school in its own right!

Staff at the reserve will come up with a suitable programme for any age group, although teachers and group leaders are given an input as well, to ensure the lesson is both informative and as enjoyable as possible.

There’s also residents’ accommodation on site, making the reserve just as suited to several-day stays as it is to field trips lasting just a few hours.

Some number highest in the winter, while others are so rare that you’d be very lucky to even catch a glimpse.

The oystercatcher is perhaps the most often noticed bird at the reserve, because its black and white plumage and long beak makes it somewhat distinctive. It’s a wading bird and can be seen in abundance in September at high tide.

The knot is another bird to be found often in large numbers. Large flocks will glide and veer through the air in their thousands, making it easy to know if you’ve seen them! September and October are the peak times to catch these remarkable creatures as they flock to the British Isles from their breeding grounds high in the Arctic.

Among the other species - although one seen far less frequently - is the shorelark. Its declining numbers mean you might just spot a few dozen in the saltmarsh areas during the winter.

Why not let us know if you’ve spotted a species that isn’t listed above…?

But fewer people know about the peaceful and highly effective opportunity for birdwatching that exists a little over half way along.

There’s a small pay-and-display car park on the left, from which you can walk through wooded areas and either continue to the beach or stop off at any of three purpose-built bird hides which overlook both The Mere and Fenland Lagoon.

Across the other side of the main road lie another two bird hides providing a view of Tennyson’s Sands, while further along, almost at the far end, is another hide at the Syke’s Farm Nature Reserve Office.

These hides are the perfect locations at which to sit down, have a breather and enjoy the many varied species of bird that populate the reserve - and maybe even bring a flask to have a cup of tea while you’re there!

Check out the Lincolnshire Trust’s Gibraltar Point map by clicking here.

We’d love to see any photos you might have taken from any of Gibraltar Point’s bird hides - just use our Join In link to send them to us!

When you think of a nature reserve, your thoughts probably go more toward birds, rabbits and possibly marine life like seals - but in fact there’s a lot more to Gibraltar Point in terms of wildlife than first meets the eye.

Hawkmoth species to be found there include the Poplar, Elephant, Small Elephant, Eyed, Privet, Pine, Lime, Convolvulous, Bedstraw and perhaps the most commonly known, the Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Its sheer size and appearance make the Hummingbird Hawkmoth a wonderful sight to see, and of course its name comes from the common first-glance confusion that leads many people to think they’ve seen a hummingbird.

Unlike many species, the Hummingbird Hawkmoth can be seen in daylight - though most commonly around dusk. It will move rapidly between flowers until finding a good source of nectar, at which point it will begin its hovering hummingbird-like behaviour and feed through its proboscis.

More rare is the Bedstraw Hawkmoth - a European migrant only recorded at the reserve in 1973, 1993 and 1996.

Why not take a stroll through Gibraltar Point and see what you can spot…?

It covers a three-mile stretch of the coast south of Skegness, and is home to a wild and wonderful array of species, with creatures like snakes, butterflies, seabirds, dragonflies, hawkmoths and more all calling it their home.

There’s also a massive variety of plant life - including fungi and coastal shrubs - that thrive in a natural and unspoilt habitat.

The reserve is recognised internationally as being a site of scientific importance. There is much conservation work going on ‘behind the scenes’, which you can learn about with a quick visit to the information centre which lies at the south end of Gibraltar Point and has its own car parking facilities.

But that doesn’t stop you enjoying a walk through the network of footpaths that lead you into over the dunes and onto the beach or into the depths of the reserve’s more wooded areas. You can also take a pause at one of its viewing areas, which offer views for miles along the coast and up toward the Wolds.

We’d love to hear about your experiences if you’ve visited Gibraltar Point - or see any photos you might have taken of the reserve. Just use the ‘Join In’ link to send us your contributions.

Keep an eye out for more news here very soon.

You can post your Gibraltar Point comments and pics and share your stories with others.

www.skegness.net

The Best Western Vine Hotel     -  Beautiful 18th Century 3 Star Hotel Accommodation

North Shore Hotel and Golf Course - Quality hotel located near the North Beach