Lincoln Local Group

News

WARNING - Lloyds Bank “phishing” scam

Some RSPB volunteers have received an email, supposedly from Lloyds Bank, requesting to reset access to their online banking. On closer inspection the email is not from Lloyds Bank and you should not click on the link. If you have any concerns or questions please email our Finance Systems team at Finance.Systems@rspb.org.uk

Another record year for Hen Harriers in the Forest of Bowland

Hen Harriers are one of the most charismatic yet also most threatened bird species nesting in our uplands. The Forest of Bowland has long been their main breeding stronghold in England thanks to collaborative conservation efforts centred on the United Utilities Bowland Estate, where the RSPB works in partnership with United Utilities to monitor and protect these amazing birds. During the 2025 breeding season, we recorded 14 Hen Harrier nests on the United Utilities Estate, of which 12 were successful and fledged an outstanding 40 young. This represents the highest number of fledglings recorded in over 40 years. Find out more on the RSPB website.

LIFE on the Edge: Celebrating five years of coastal success

As our England-wide coastal conservation project draws to a close, we take a closer look at its impact. LIFE on the Edge has been a large-scale project designed to conserve, restore and future-proof our fragile coastal habitats. It was implemented at seven coastal. Special Protected Areas (SPAs) across England, from Morecambe Bay in the northwest, down to Langstone Harbour in the south. Click Here to read more on the RSPB Website

Rare Bittern population boosted thanks to UK’s largest quarry to reedbed restoration

180 hectares of Bittern friendly wetland has been created from quarried land at RSPB Ouse Fen in Cambridgeshire, 20 years since the first area of wetland was created from quarried land. This year 13 calling male Bitterns were recorded during the breeding season, the highest count ever for the reserve, nearly doubling the number since 2020. This is a significant number on one wetland as males claim and defend large territories so, the bigger the wetland, the more Bitterns may breed on site. Learn more in this online article.

Why we celebrated Black conservationists last month

October’s Black History Month reminds us that nature needs all and celebrates the vital work of Black conservationists past and present. Every October, the RSPB is proud to celebrate Black History Month under the theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”. The environmental movement is indebted to Black conservationists past and present, many of whom have shown resilience, leadership, and innovation in protecting nature. Read more at RSPB news.

Berwick Bank windfarm campaign

Berwick Bank is projected to be one of the deadliest windfarms for birds on the planet. Consent for it was granted by Scottish Government earlier this year, but critically that consent said that the project can only progress if SSE (the developers) compensate for its devastating impact on seabirds.

We do not believe that it is possible to compensate for this scale of loss.

Green energy is essential to tackle the climate crisis, but not at this enormous ecological cost. We will continue to fight for Scotland's seabirds and put more pressure on Scottish Government and SSE to cancel Berwick Bank.

If you have not done so already, please help us by signing the petition at: .https://www.seabird.org/cancel-berwick-bank-offshore-windfarm Thank you.

2026 Calendar

The 2026 Calendar

2026 Calendar and Photo Competition

Many thanks to the members who voted for their favourite photos. The photos which received the most votes were:

These are the photos which are included in the Group's 2026 calendar.

The calendars are now on sale at the Group's indoor meetings and field trips at £6.50. They can also be posted to you for the additional cost of £2. To order simply email calendars@lincolnrspb.org.uk with your name, address and how many you wish to purchase (reduced postage for more than one calendar, contact us for prices). Payment is by BACS to: Account: RSPB Lincoln Group, Sort Code: 30-90-79, Acc No: 33899768. Please use the reference CALENDAR.

Record Breaking Year for Little Terns on Humber Estuary

Conservation efforts at Beacon Lagoons on the Humber Estuary have delivered a record-breaking year for one of the UK’s rarest seabirds, the Little Tern, with the highest number of breeding pairs recorded on the Humber estuary for more than 50 years. The project, led by Spurn Bird Observatory Trust in partnership with the RSPB, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Humber Nature Partnership and the South Holderness Countryside Society, has seen numbers soar from 59 pairs in 2024 to at least 105 breeding pairs in 2025. Find out more on the BBC news website.

Avocets – a symbol of hope and nature restoration, thanks to RSPB members

Once extinct as a breeding species in the UK, RSPB members are now helping Avocets to thrive. They had been lost as a breeding bird from the UK by 1840, partly due to a lack of suitable places to breed. Now thanks to the support of RSPB members, our team of people, united by their love for nature, have helped take this bird from threatened to thriving. Find out how Avocets have bounced back across the country on the RSPB website.

Wainwright Prize winners 2025

As proud partners with the UK’s leading nature writing competition, we’re delighted to share the winners. This year’s Wainwright Prize Book of the Year went to Chloe Dalton for Raising Hare. The book follows Chloe’s journey as she discovers a fragile, newborn hare alone in the wild and becomes its unlikely guardian. Raising Hare follows their extraordinary bond, reminding us that the most profound connections with nature often emerge when we least expect them. Read more at Congratulations to the Wainwright Prize winners 2025 and also Chloe Dalton..

Nine year old wins major wildlife photography award

She's 9 and already winning major wildlife photography awards. Meet the Eagle Eyed Girl Here.

Bird-food sales

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to sell bird food as we don't have any volunteers who are prepared to do it. If you would be willing to volunteer please contact Graham Mumby-Croft.

Secondhand Books

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer secondhand books for sale at our indoor meetings as we don't have any volunteers who are prepared to do it. If you would like to volunteer please contact Graham Mumby-Croft

Lincoln Cathedral's peregrines

In 2025 the Peregrines at Lincoln Cathedral successfully hatched 4 eggs, the first on Easter Monday. The Group organised a watchpoint at the Cathedral at weekends in June and July and it is proposed that we do the same again in 2026. If you would like to help at the watchpoint please contact Gwen Randall

Photo: One of Lincoln Cathedral's peregrines by Yvonne Allen.

 Peregrine

Relief for seabirds as court rules that UK within its rights to end sandeel fishing

Last year, the EU challenged the UK's closure of industrial sandeel fishing in its waters. After going to Arbitration earlier this year, today the Arbitration Panel has found the ecological case against industrial sandeel fishing is sound and the UK has the right to stop this damaging fishing in its waters. We are relieved and delighted with this decision as this means that sandeels can be safeguarded for the seabirds that need them. Find out more on the RSPB Website.

The new Planning and Infrastructure Bill must help deliver nature’s recovery

Earlier in March, the UK Government introduced a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The UK Government says it wants the planning system to unlock economic growth, and the bill aims to speed up the delivery of new infrastructure, renewable energy, and the building of 1.5 million new houses by 2029. The Government has also said it wants a planning system that revives our natural world and has claimed the Bill offers huge opportunities to restore nature. Unfortunately, our assessment of what’s in the Bill is that this is simply not true. In fact, new powers proposed in the Bill could even weaken existing environmental protections and move us even further away from nature’s recovery. Read more at www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/planning-bill Here and take action at https://action.rspb.org.uk/page/159517.

Reserves categorisation site update

The reserves categorisation process is still ongoing and subject to legal restrictions on what we can say at the moment. It results from the fact that, like any responsible charity, we are always trying to make sure that the money that we receive from our generous members and supporters is spent in the best possible way to help nature.

The economy has not been in the best of shape in recent years. Every one of us is feeling the cost-of-living crisis and inflationary pressure, and many people are having to make difficult decisions in their day-to-day lives to make ends meet. This situation also affects the RSPB, and indeed many in our sector, in several ways, including increasing costs as prices and energy costs rise.

Our income is growing but not fast enough to keep up with rising costs. It took £150 million to deliver our work two years ago. Today that same work will cost us £165 million, a 10% rise. And so, to ensure our longer-term sustainability, we have completed a comprehensive review of our operations. We have looked across the organisation for improvements and efficiencies – from how we do our work to where we buy the things we need to do it. Further information is at www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/changes-on-our-reserves

Birdwatching cruises 2025

The times and dates of The Wash Birdwatching Cruises from Boston in 2025 can be found Here.

Tickets are £24 for RSPB members (£30 for non members) and half price for children. Bookings should be open soon via Blackfriars Art Centre 01205 363108 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackfriars

Fire in the hills: Why our uplands need your help

As autumn arrives, we can expect to see smoke rising over the northern English uplands from October to March, the heather and grass burning season. During this time, shooting estates use burning as a tool to remove unfavourable vegetation and encourage the growth of young heather – a food source for grouse and livestock. Burning often takes place on globally threatened upland habitats, such as blanket bogs, which have developed over millennia and store large amounts of carbon vital to tackling the climate crisis. We need your help to monitor where this is happening so we can protect these habitats. To find out more about the issue and how you can report burning please see this online article.

Rare Hen Harrier from Bowland disappears in suspicious circumstances

A Lancashire Hen Harrier has disappeared raising fears of illegal persecution. The young female, named Helius, hatched last summer in Bowland. Helius was fitted with a satellite tag which allowed the RSPB to monitor her movements. Her tag showed her to be exploring the wider Bowland area. She even went on to have chicks of her own, producing a brood of five chicks this summer on United Utilities land, three of which fledged. Her chicks having left, on 31 July 2024 Helius was at a location on the boundary of a United Utilities Estate between Brennand Fell and Tarnbrook Fell. The next day, her tag, which had been performing reliably, failed to transmit. It has been silent ever since.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Lancashire Police were informed and a search was conducted, but they found no trace of Helius or her tag. In 2023 a total of 34 tagged Hen Harriers were killed or disappeared in suspicious circumstances. To learn more and find out you can help harriers and other raptors please see our wildlife crime web page.

An Introduction to Bird Identification and Monitoring

The RSPB has produced a booklet which will give you an introduction to bird identification and monitoring. You can view and/or download a copy Here.

Volunteering at Langford Lowfields

Do you have a passion for nature?
We're looking for volunteers to spend a few hours a week chatting to visitors here at our Langford Lowfields Nature Reserve. We are looking for volunteers for Thursday morning, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - half and full days available. You'll be based at our lovely beach hut and be able to get involved with pond dipping and events. Click here for more information.

Free coach travel for children on Sunday coach outings

You can book one free coach seat for a child under the age of 16 for each adult seat you book and pay for in advance - any admission charges will still apply, only the coach travel is free. We realise that it can be expensive for families to visit nature reserves so we are making this offer to encourage more people to bring children with them and encourage them to take an interest in birds, wildlife and our wonderful natural heritage.

Newsletters

The Group ceased producing paper copies of newsletters in 2024, all news is now on-line.only. Copies of all newsletters from the Group's formation in 1974 to the last one issued in 2014 are available on Dropbox
You do not need a Dropbox account to view them.

To find out more about the RSPB click on the RSPB logo or visit www.rspb.org.uk

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