Did you know…?

There are ten species of hawkmoth that have been known to call Gibraltar Point their home.

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…?

Enjoy the great outdoors…

With more than 1,000 acres of sand-dunes, seashore, saltmarshes and freshwater habitats, Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve is a place that anyone with a love of the great outdoors can really lose themselves for an afternoon or even a day.

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.