At the weekend we made our way to a nature reserve that’s new to us: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Willow Tree Fen. Located to the west of Spalding, it’s about and hour and a half from us but it was well worth the drive.

In a very sunny Easter bank holiday Monday we spent well over two hours there watching the wildlife. The visitor area is, essentially, a viewpoint from a car park, as the rest of the reserve was closed to visitors during the pandemic. However, from that spot visitors get a great, expansive view across the site with its lakes, ditches, grassland and reedbeds.

During the pandemic closure, common cranes moved in and started breeding and they were our primary target for the day; we weren’t disappointed. Over the course of our visit we saw over 30 individuals and plenty of action. We saw pairs wandering around and mating as well as groups flying from area to area including some close passes.

We also saw good numbers of other birds and mammals including sky-dancing marsh harriers, loads of roe deer and a prowling stoat.

But, back to the cranes, this is one of the best places to see them in England and I certainly had my closest views of them in this country. When they have their chicks, we will be back.