Countryside and open spaces

Lollycocks Field, Sleaford

Lollycocks Field’s 5.47 acres of pasture provide an important habitat for many species of plants and animals under threat from the town and the surrounding agricultural farmland.

In 1983, North Kesteven District Council bought Lollycocks Field to safeguard its role as an area of high value to wildlife. It is situated on Eastgate, Sleaford next to the District Council offices, NG34 7EF. A pond was added in the mid-1980s, to further enhance the site prior to declaration as a Local Nature Reserve in September 1993. A small scrape can be found adjacent to the pond. This very shallow water area provides an excellent and safe habitat for pond life.

The area is managed on behalf of NKDC by Hill Holt Wood, an Environmental Social Enterprise and has a successful volunteer group who meet on site once a month. If you have any comments, suggestions or would like to volunteer please contact the Head Ranger on 01636 892836 or by emailing countrysidenk@hillholtwood.co.uk

Millennium Green, North Hykeham

North Kesteven District Council is proud to have been managing this 41.28-acre site since being appointed trustees in 2011. It is situated behind the playing fields on Newark Road, North Hykeham and can be accessed by parking in the Memorial Hall Car Park on Newark Road, North Hykeham LN6 9RY.

The sites management plan aims to give visitors a great outdoor facility to enjoy, whilst encouraging natural habitat growth and nature conservation. It features wildflower meadows, hedgerows, a 1 mile foot/cycle path, a picnic area and a dog friendly walking area. It predominant feature is a large lake with viewing areas. In order to further preserve the area, a volunteer conservation group is being formed.

Please make the most of the space and all it has to offer whilst respecting other users. Please note that the lake supports and encourages a natural habitat for wildlife therefore no recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, kayaking or any form of boating are permitted.

Hill Holt Wood, an Environmental Social Enterprise, manage the site on the Council’s behalf. If you have any comments, suggestions or would like to volunteer please contact the Head Ranger on 01636 892836 or by emailing countrysidenk@hillholtwood.co.uk

There are two nature reserves within the District:

• Whisby Nature Park
• Bloxholm Wood

You can find more information on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website.

For information on walking routes and schemes, see below:

• Ramblers Wellbeing Walks North Kesteven
• Sleaford & District Ramblers
• Lincolnshire Walks search
• NK Walking Festival
• Stepping Out Walks
• Lincolnshire Coop wellbeing walks – Weekly walks
• Let's move Lincolnshire

Connecting a variety of public green spaces in the heart of Lincolnshire, Witham Valley Country Park covers around 40 square miles of high quality, unspoilt countryside, rich in wildlife and history.

Over the coming years Witham Valley Country Park will improve and increase the connections between the green spaces to give you more opportunities to enjoy walking, cycling, and horse riding. The Park area hosts a wide range of sporting and leisure activities, so that you can have a fun day out with friends and family. Activities include fishing, camping and much more. There is also an 18-hole golf course just a short distance from Lincoln city centre.

The park contains sites of special scientific interest, as well as local wildlife sites, which contain species of flora and fauna that are rare to Lincolnshire. The area is rich in biodiversity and provides habitats that support a diverse plant, bird and insect population, perfect for birdwatching activities.

Witham Valley Country Park has recently undergone huge improvements to its play areas. Other areas have award winning cafés and new cycle tracks, and footpaths are being improved throughout the Park to improve access and connectivity between areas.

The Witham/Slea Blue Green Corridor Project is an exciting new partnership project funded by the European Regional Development Fund, South Kesteven District Council, North Kesteven District Council, Environment Agency, and National Trust, designed to restore and reconnect the river and river corridors through the urban reaches of both Grantham and Sleaford. For further information, please visit the Witham/Slea Blue Green Corridor Projec website.