For the most part, the reserve is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  However, car parks are closed off at night during weekends from Easter to September.  This reduces incidents of disturbance, vandalism, littering, arson etc, which the reserve tends to suffer due to its proximity to Skegness.  After a spate of incidents, good links have been forged with the Police in 2001, and the number of routine patrols has been stepped up.  It is important to maintain such links with the emergency services who may need emergency access to the site from time to time.  The reserve has rarely been completely closed to public access; past incidents are attributable to the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak and due to high fire risk during the drought years.  On both occasions, appropriate advice was sought from emergency services and relevant authorities.

It is also important to retain good will from neighbours.  A number of incidents and issues occur on the northern boundary, so it is imperative that every effort is made to keep good contacts with the residents of Seacroft, particularly along the Seacroft Esplanade.

During busy visitor periods, it is necessary to provide a visible wardening service to oversee visitor activity and enforce bylaws.  The reserve bylaws were set up in conjunction with LCC and ELDC and are highlighted at major access points onto the NNR.  Additional signs are necessary to curb the problems with dogs and cycles.  With such a high number of visitors on the site, it is imperative that management measures are available to alleviate damage or disturbance to sensitive habitats and species.  Some areas are maintained as permanent sanctuary areas eg the Ringing Hollow and the East Dune slack.  Elsewhere, temporary public exclusion zones will be set up as necessary to protect rare and vulnerable species.  The shorebird sanctuary is one such example. This temporary exclusion zone is enforced under a Bird Sanctuary Order.  The Plantation route is maintained as a quiet area for LWT members essentially.  Elsewhere, the Trust reserves the right to be able to close off paths from time to time, where there may be a risk of disturbance to sensitive species for example.

Warden patrols may incorporate a wide range of site inspection duties, including ticket checks in the car parks.  Staff and key volunteers are involved in patrolling and bylaw enforcement following appropriate training in dealing with the public.  A resident voluntary warden at Seacroft is a valuable contact in keeping a watching brief on visitor activities at the north end of the SSSI and potential support from other local residents should be encouraged.

The most frequent breach of bylaws concerns loose dogs.  Reserve policy is that unrestrained dogs are not an appropriate feature of an NNR.  Thus dogs, are permitted, where kept on a lead.  During the April to September period dogs are not permitted on the beach.  Loose dogs can prove to be a menace to both wildlife and other visitors.  The proximity of ground- nesting birds to some of the footpaths is close; therefore, disturbance from dogs must be avoided.  On the beach, potential disturbance to nesting shorebirds, feeding and roosting waterfowl and seal pups constitutes an issue as well as public health. 

The popularity of cycling has greatly increased in recent years and thus the number of cyclist infringements has increased on the reserve.  The Trust are keen to promote sustainable transport in appropriate environments and are working with LCC on a cycleway project from Skegness to Gibraltar Point.  This will provide pedestrians and cyclists with a safe, shared route from Tennyson’s Sands to South Car Park, separate from the highway.  A code of conduct has been produced by Sustrans, for cyclists on shared routes The provision of secure cycle stands at terminus points in North Car Park and at the Visitor Centre should reduce the likelihood of people cycling further onto the NNR.  This situation will need to be carefully observed.

A maintenance schedule ensures the upkeep of public facilities.  A litter pick is carried out weekly and a bi-monthly health and safety checks are carried out to ensure that estate fabric does not constitute a hazard.  Records of checks are maintained.  Periodically, fly-tipping results in the deposition of hazardous waste eg asbestos.  Disposal can be time consuming and costly and advice and assistance may be sought from the local authority.

The public toilets are cleaned and maintained on a daily basis by reserve staff.  This proves costly in terms of time and materials.  It is important to maintain facilities to a high standard, although this rates as a low priority task and there may be a risk of neglect during periods of low staff cover eg weekends.  The structural maintenance and decor remain the responsibility of LCC.  It is proposed that LCC are approached with regard to overseeing daily cleaning and stocking through contract services.  On the reserve, it is necessary to carry out weekly litter-picking and hide-cleaning duties.  Footpaths are kept clear of vegetation and particular attention is paid to removing dangerous tree limbs where overhanging footpaths.

There is largely open access at the north end of the NNR; the major access points and car parks focus most visitors to the southern half of the NNR.  Here visitor access through the most sensitive habitats will continue to be managed formally through the provision of well-surfaced tracks and low post and wire guide fencing.  It is not envisaged that further provision of formal surfaced tracks will be provided on the NNR.  Indeed, this would not be possible without some loss of habitat ie grey dune.  Where footpaths have been provided, it has been necessary to use material from off-site. The majority of tracks are comprised of a chalk base with limestone capping.  Within the calcareous dune system, this material causes less of a concern than alternatives.  In addition, it imposes a ‘softer’ impression on the landscape, particularly as it will partially vegetate over.  A series of major footpath improvements have been made in 2000, involving the majority of existing footpaths.  In addition, the provision of a new track along the perimeter of Tennyson’s Sands and Jackson’s Marsh provides the final link of a circular route around the NNR.  The circular route is now mostly usable by wheelchairs and all recent access initiatives have attempted to reconcile gradients and appropriate surfacing with access for all users.  The majority of hides have been designed or altered to accommodate wheelchairs.  All future visitor access initiatives will be designed with disabled access specifications where reasonably practicable.