A new 30-hectare nature reserve on the Lincolnshire coast will open to the public this Saturday, marking the end of a six-year project that transformed a former golf course into a wetland habitat. The reserve, named Sandilands, is located just north of Skegness and has been developed by the National Trust, a conservation charity. The project involved converting the golf course’s fairways and greens into a variety of coastal habitats, including scrubland, grasslands, and wetlands. These environments are designed to support a range of bird species, including lapwings, snipes, terns, and gulls, and to serve as a crucial stopover for migratory birds like spoonbills, spotted redshanks, and black-tailed godwits. Even before the reserve officially opened, wildlife has begun to return. Rangers reported that avocets and oystercatchers have already nested and bred at the site, and little ringed plover chicks have been recorded for the second consecutive year. Despite recent challenges, including severe droughts and record-breaking heat, the project team is optimistic about the future. They expect the wetlands to flourish during the upcoming wetter winter months, which will bring more water and support for the local ecosystem. Sandilands is situated along the "East Coast Flyway," an internationally significant migration route that thousands of birds use each year to travel between Arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas in southern Europe. The reserve is also part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, a five-mile stretch of coastline featuring sandy beaches, dunes, marshes, and reedbeds. By adding Sandilands to the park, the National Trust aims to create a vital stepping stone for wildlife, especially as climate change and environmental pressures threaten natural habitats. Katie Scott, an area ranger for the National Trust, emphasized the importance of the new reserve for endangered and rare bird species. She noted that many of these birds travel thousands of miles each year and rely on safe refuges like Sandilands to rest, feed, and breed. The reserve is also designed to be accessible for people of all ages and abilities, offering residents near Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea more opportunities to connect with nature. The transformation of the golf course involved moving nearly 52,000 cubic metres of earth and planting over 35,000 native coastal shrubs, as well as spreading green hay to create species-rich grasslands. Visitors can expect to experience the dynamic changes of nature throughout the year, from summer dragonflies and butterflies to winter swans and geese.