Short birdwatching visit · Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Willow Tree Fen
- Tier
- Good stop nearby
- Best season
- Not stated for individual headline birds; reserve open year-round
- Headline birds
- Snipe · Redshank · Lapwing
- Parking
- Small car park across the bridge off Counter Drain Drove, opposite Bank House Farm.
- Hides
- Public viewing area beside the car park; no hide is specified.
- Step-free
- Not stated by the operator
Counter Drain Drove, west of Spalding · PE11 3JH
Willow Tree Fen is a restored fenland reserve west of Spalding, watched from a public viewing area beside its car park. Former arable fields now hold shallow water, wet pasture and reedbeds. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust lists Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe among the wetland birds here, while its resident Cranes give the site particular interest. Watch only from the authorised viewing area: this is not a walking circuit through the reserve. Volunteers may help visitors understand the landscape and its wildlife, but access depends on their availability. Treat the operator's current access instructions as more useful than older descriptions of paths through the site.
Birds and seasons
- Snipe · Headline bird — Not stated for individual headline birds; reserve open year-round Source for Snipe
- Redshank · Headline bird — Not stated for individual headline birds; reserve open year-round Source for Redshank
- Lapwing · Headline bird — Not stated for individual headline birds; reserve open year-round Source for Lapwing
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Public viewing area beside the car park; no hide is specified.
- Paths
- The former internal paths were removed. Remain at the authorised viewing area and do not enter the reserve.
- Toilets
- No toilets are available on site.
- Parking
- Small car park across the bridge off Counter Drain Drove, opposite Bank House Farm.
- Dogs
- Dogs are not permitted, including in the car park and viewing area.
- Access notes
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Step-free access
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
Getting there: Approach on Counter Drain Drove between Tongue End and Pode Hole. PE11 3JH is the nearest registered-address postcode, not a promise of a precise entrance pin. There is no reserve access from the Macmillan Way or Slipe Drove/West Pinchbeck.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Dersingham Bog National Nature Reserve · 30.2 straight-line miles
- Roydon Common and Tony Hallatt Memorial Reserve · 30.9 straight-line miles
- Shouldham Warren · 31.5 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Frampton Marsh, 15.5 miles away in a straight line.
- Baston Fen · 3.2 miles in a straight line
- Dole Wood · 6.3 miles in a straight line
- Deeping Lakes · 8.1 miles in a straight line