Hawthorpe Farm: saving vital grassland habitat

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has a unique opportunity to secure the long-term protection and restoration of one of Lincolnshire’s largest remaining grassland areas. An 87.65ha parcel of wildlife-rich land near Hawthorpe, alongside the East Glen River, in Lincolnshire was entered into set aside in the 1980’s and has remained uncropped since. Much of the land has been grazed by sheep and some hay taken since then. Surrounded by intensively farmed land, the site sits within one of the county’s most nature-depleted landscapes, and provides a rare opportunity to restore a diverse grassland mosaic for nature, climate and future generations.

The land has no designations, but there is an ancient woodland adjacent. There are also connections to other sites with designations along the river. Hawthorpe already supports skylark, yellowhammer, a variety of pollinators and native wildflowers. In ownership, LWT will be able to expand rare calcareous grassland at scale. Alongside grassland restoration, the project will be reconnected to the East Glen River with its floodplain, creating wetter grassland habitats and improving natural water retention. Measures to ‘slow the flow’ will reduce flood risk downstream, and low-intensity grazing and habitat management will boost biodiversity, improve soil health, support pollinators, and build climate resilience.

When the land came to market in early 2025, LWT seized the opportunity to secure it. An application to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation allowed the site to be purchased quickly, and they now act as caretaker until LWT can raise the funds to purchase it.