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Saturday 21st February 2004, 12:07
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=57685&command=displayContent&sourceNode=57237&contentPK=8894789
THE KEEN BIRDWATCHER WHO LOVED HIS HOBBY SO MUCH HE BUILT HIS OWN RESERVE
10:30 - 19 February 2004
An award winning conservationist couple have planted thousands of trees to transform a disused gravel pit into a wildlife haven.
Robin and Margaret Francis bought the plot of land off Hemingby Lane, West Ashby, near Horncastle, 20 years ago and they hope their amazing work will lead to victory in the Lincolnshire Environment Awards 2004.
They were overall winners last year and also have five David Bellamy Conservation Awards.
Mr Francis (59), a keen sailor, originally bought the land with a view to building a lake and offering lessons to tourists.
But he changed his mind and with the help of his 59-year-old wife has created a mini oasis in the Lincolnshire countryside.
It is now a 70-acre caravan park and popular fishing spot with seven lakes, wooded areas and wildlife ponds.
Mr Francis said that his business had never really been about the money.
"In making this place more attractive to animals we are also making it more attractive to tourists and anglers," he said.
The ex-engineer and his wife have gone to great trouble to create a wide range of habitats.
Pockets of dense woodland, wetland and small ponds are woven in between the lakes and caravan pitches.
Mr Francis said: "The reasoning behind it is that it draws the wildlife in closer to the people staying here - the animals feel safer because they can duck in and out of the little thickets."
The keen bird watcher said that it was common for foxes, badgers and stoats to wander over the land.
"We've built up certain areas to pull in specific species - we created a sand habitat and attracted sand martins within a year.
"And we've scattered owl and bat boxes all over the site - they are almost all full."
The couple have also planted about a thousand saplings a year for the past three years and they plan to continue for the foreseeable future.
Mr Francis said: "We're always finding new ways to improve the place - it's never ending - in a way that's what keeps us going. These awards really make people sit up and recognise the environmental problems we have - it's a pleasure to be part of it."
Individuals, schools and companies can enter the awards.
Simply write a 200-word proposal describing your idea or scheme and post it to:
The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards, 77 Lincoln Road, Bassingham, Lincolnshire, LN5 9JR.
:clap: :clap:
:clap: :clap: :bounce:
THE KEEN BIRDWATCHER WHO LOVED HIS HOBBY SO MUCH HE BUILT HIS OWN RESERVE
10:30 - 19 February 2004
An award winning conservationist couple have planted thousands of trees to transform a disused gravel pit into a wildlife haven.
Robin and Margaret Francis bought the plot of land off Hemingby Lane, West Ashby, near Horncastle, 20 years ago and they hope their amazing work will lead to victory in the Lincolnshire Environment Awards 2004.
They were overall winners last year and also have five David Bellamy Conservation Awards.
Mr Francis (59), a keen sailor, originally bought the land with a view to building a lake and offering lessons to tourists.
But he changed his mind and with the help of his 59-year-old wife has created a mini oasis in the Lincolnshire countryside.
It is now a 70-acre caravan park and popular fishing spot with seven lakes, wooded areas and wildlife ponds.
Mr Francis said that his business had never really been about the money.
"In making this place more attractive to animals we are also making it more attractive to tourists and anglers," he said.
The ex-engineer and his wife have gone to great trouble to create a wide range of habitats.
Pockets of dense woodland, wetland and small ponds are woven in between the lakes and caravan pitches.
Mr Francis said: "The reasoning behind it is that it draws the wildlife in closer to the people staying here - the animals feel safer because they can duck in and out of the little thickets."
The keen bird watcher said that it was common for foxes, badgers and stoats to wander over the land.
"We've built up certain areas to pull in specific species - we created a sand habitat and attracted sand martins within a year.
"And we've scattered owl and bat boxes all over the site - they are almost all full."
The couple have also planted about a thousand saplings a year for the past three years and they plan to continue for the foreseeable future.
Mr Francis said: "We're always finding new ways to improve the place - it's never ending - in a way that's what keeps us going. These awards really make people sit up and recognise the environmental problems we have - it's a pleasure to be part of it."
Individuals, schools and companies can enter the awards.
Simply write a 200-word proposal describing your idea or scheme and post it to:
The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards, 77 Lincoln Road, Bassingham, Lincolnshire, LN5 9JR.
:clap: :clap:
:clap: :clap: :bounce: