First in King's Series of National Nature Reserves 'launched' at ceremony in Cleethorpes, near Grimsby

                                                             

Natural England chief executive Marian Spain unveils a plaque at  Cleethorpes Leisure Centre   

THE  Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve has been  formally 'launched' at a ceremony in Cleethorpes, near Grimsby. 

It is the first in the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves and is due to be joined by 24 others over the next five years.

It covers  33 square kilometres along almost 30 kilometres of the Greater Lincolnshire coast containing a rich variety of sand dunes, saltmarshes, mudflats and freshwater marshes.

It brings together the  Donna Nook and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes national nature reserves along with other sites such as the RSPB's Tetney Marshes reserve.

A statement from Natural England reads: "The new reserve is close to large urban populations, with Grimsby and Cleethorpes to the north, Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea to the south, and Louth and Lincoln to the west. 

"The reserve will help to unlock more opportunity for local people to access and experience the coastline for their own health and wellbeing, supporting communities to get active, providing education opportunities or learning new skills through volunteering or to simply recharge in nature."

                                                       

This outline map indicates the extent of the Lincolnshire reserve

King Charles meets young nature enthusiasts on a visit to Lincolnshire earlier this year