A legacy project that supports the balance of wildlife and economic development on the South Humber Bank has been completed.
Novartis Ings builds on a gift of 35-acres of land from the departing Swiss pharmaceutical giant, with further support from industrial neighbour Solenis. It has been transformed to create a wetland habitat, supported by the ERDF and Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Wading species are a particular target, with the temporary stopping off point on the estuary now providing a very rich invertebrate food source on the mudflats. It has been described as a ‘motorway service station for migrating birds’. Large numbers of golden plover, lapwing, black tailed godwit, curlew and others also stay all winter to benefit from the relatively mild climate combined with a reliable food source revealed twice a day by the tide. Eventually most migrate back to their northern breeding grounds in the spring, and more than 500 curlew have been counted in recent weeks.
