Frampton fabulous at 40

Last year RSPB Frampton Marsh celebrated its 40-year anniversary. We look back at how it all began and what the hopes are for the future.

From what was once land reclaimed from the sea for farming, to a vast swathe of saltmarsh and a thriving nature reserve full of life all year round, Frampton Marsh is an icon of change. RSPB Frampton Marsh is just four miles from Boston and sits on one of the most important estuaries in the country – The Wash.

In the 1900s many of the marshes in the area had disappeared, being repurposed for agricultural use.

The impact this had on wildlife in the area slowly became apparent. Saltmarsh, a vital habitat for Redshanks, was significantly reduced and covered smaller and smaller areas. The characterful and rather vocal wading bird, once so common on the coast, was becoming endangered as a breeding bird in the UK with the large-scale loss of the marsh upon which they were dependent.

The saltmarsh hugging the edge of The Wash at Frampton Marsh is one of the oldest and largest areas of saltmarsh in the UK. It’s ideal for Redshanks and also attracts globally significant numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese in the winter – up to 3% of the world’s population in fact.

When the land was put up for sale in 1984, the RSPB jumped at the fantastic opportunity to restore this large chunk of perfect Redshank breeding territory on the mouth of the largest bay in England.

Naturally established saltmarsh does not need grazing, but as this area of saltmarsh had already been grazed, a more controlled and intermittent approach to cattle grazing was introduced. This ensured that no single plant species was able to dominate, and their hooves stirred up the soil, both of which allowed a more diverse vegetation to become established and attracted more invertebrates. This was crucial to once again provide saltmarsh suitable for Redshanks to nest.

This practice of grazing the saltmarsh at Frampton Marsh has now ended, as the quality of saltmarsh is now good. Once the ecological conditions of the saltmarsh improved and the seasonal changes took effect, the saltmarsh was able to run to its own natural rhythms.

Freshwater wetland
The purchase of Roads Farm in 2006 marked the next big step for the regeneration of this crucial wetland at RSPB Frampton Marsh, and for the visitor attraction we know today.

From 1860 this area of land had been arable farmland, specifically used for growing cereals and sugar beet. It was perfect for the creation of much needed freshwater wetlands to complement the vast swathes of saltmarsh behind it. The enormity of the saltmarsh would offer protection for freshwater lagoons and scrapes. It would also provide much needed safe and protected breeding areas for both seabirds such as Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls as well as wading birds such as Avocets, Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwits.

These areas would also make a safe place for birds to roost during high tides, when they are pushed off the mudflats and no longer able to feed but merely sit and await the receding water.

Saltmarsh is not only valuable to wildlife, but also acts as a soft sea defence, breaking the force of incoming waves and preventing flooding on land immediately in front of it – a significant factor in the reduction of flooding and damage from storm surges.

Visitor centre and trails
The green space at Frampton Marsh is unrivalled in the area and this protection from the sea made it the ideal location for good visitor facilities, which have really grown in the last few years.

The visitor centre opened in 2009 and is well equipped, with accessible toilet facilities and a recently added café with a large viewing window looking out onto the reedbed lagoon, from which ducks and geese dabble and dive.

On arrival at the reserve, the friendly volunteers greet visitors, informing them of recent sightings and the various trails, events and activities on offer – whilst around the reserve many of the 100 volunteers can be seen beavering away with the warden team or in the café.

The reserve has blossomed, not only becoming a vital space for huge numbers of birds and wildlife but for the local community. With around six miles of accessible trails on evenly surfaced paths, mobility scooters and a wheelchair for hire alongside activities for children, there is a real family focus.

The reserve also offers several strategically placed benches along the pathways for that well-earned rest, as well as providing easy access viewing points across the lagoon. The 360-degree hide is light, open and airy offering a multi-sided view across two areas of the reserve. If visitors still don’t fancy heading out, there’s a comfortable seating area in the visitor centre from which to watch the lagoon whilst being sheltered from the elements.

RSPB Frampton Marsh also boasts a network of walking trails ranging from the Meridian Way, which starts in London. It follows the Greenwich Way, as well as the soon-to-be-completed King Charles II coastal path, due to open in 2025-6.

The Macmillan Way can be picked up from Frampton Marsh too, making it an ideal hub from which to explore the wider Lincolnshire countryside. The café at Frampton is also aptly situated for refreshments for many a weary walker.

Community collaboration
As a reserve, Frampton Marsh has close and tight links with the local community. Through a collaboration between the reserve and Transported Art, a local Arts Council funded organisation, a series of artworks on marine navigational buoys was commissioned.

The buoys are a nod to the importance of The Wash and its maritime heritage, acknowledging the pivotal part it plays in human lives as well as nature. Two large 15ft buoys are located at Frampton Marsh providing artistic interpretations of the wildlife there, and are linked with six more in Boston town centre.

A large, curved mirrored structure named ‘Reflector’ has also been installed. The structure, which captures light and enhances the big sky, is another community partnership project. The mirror is embossed with images of flying birds created by the children from a local school. The partnership will continue, with further artwork set to be added on the reserve over the next few years.

Frampton Marsh is an oasis of wildlife all year round. In autumn and winter thousands of Dark-bellied Brent Geese call the reserve home. Flying all the way from Russia, the birds settle here on the heart of The Wash. The mix of wet grassland, saltmarsh, arable fields and mudflats make this the perfect real estate, and they find the climate here balmy in comparison to their breeding grounds.

East Atlantic flyway
The geese are also joined by vast numbers of wading birds such as Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank, alongside ducks such as Wigeon, Shoveler and Teal. These birds too have retreated from the harsher northern climate of their breeding grounds. The northern winter is too harsh to provide enough food, so the birds must travel to places they know will have what they need. RSPB Frampton Marsh on the edge of The Wash is just the ticket.

Being on the East Atlantic flyway – one of several major bird migration routes in the world – makes Frampton Marsh an ideal location for many birds to refuel. The East Atlantic Flyway is akin to a bird superhighway, with Frampton Marsh being the service station, packed to the hilt with essential nutrients.

Watching 40-50,000 birds wheeling around the marsh is quite the spectacle, and even more impressive when combined with a signature Lincolnshire big sky sunset. In 2023, it was added to the UK’s shortlist of World Heritage Sites as a key part of England’s east coast wetlands, which were included because of their importance for migrating birds.

But it’s not just the winter that packs a punch bird-wise, the spring and summer are just as bountiful.

Marsh Harriers are regularly seen through the floor-to-ceiling café window, swooping over the reeds in search of a tasty morsel; alongside a warm pasty they frequently provide an action-packed lunchtime treat. The lagoon alone can be full to the brim with water birds, with many fluffy young chicks frequenting the pool in spring and summer. The electric blue and orange of the Kingfisher may just be caught zipping past at high speed too.

While the wildlife has thrived, with 250 pairs of Redshank breeding on the reserve recently (a marked increase since the purchase of the land those 40 years ago), there is still a lot to do. Saltmarsh, freshwater lagoons and wet grassland are vital habitats for the wildlife of The Wash.

John Badley, the site manager, has been with the reserve since its inception. He has been at the forefront of its development alongside his dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

He said: “We have seen such immense changes here over the years. From arable fields to vibrant freshwater lagoons full of life. We now see a nature reserve bustling with people and wildlife. We’ll continue to help create wildlife corridors and bigger and better connections within the wider landscape, to secure a brighter future for both wildlife and local communities.

“We’d like to thank all our supporters, members, donors and visitors, without whom these conservation successes would not be achieved.”

For more info about visiting RSPB Frampton Marsh, visit www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/frampton-marsh

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