Grid Ref: SK951688
Status: Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Lincolnshire Trust)
Starmers Pit is the part of the Boultham Moor complex lying on the west side of Tritton
Road. It
consists of a 2.3ha area of open water surrounded to the east by secondary birch/oak/sycamore
woodland that has developed on heathland. Some planting of spruce has taken place. It has been
designated as Critical Natural Asset for the following reasons:
1) The site holds examples of wetland emergent and marginal aquatic habitat types.
It is one of
13 wetland sites in Lincoln, accounting for 3% of the total wetland area in Lincoln. The woodland
supports small patches of heathland flora (area unquantified). Although these areas are not
significant in themselves, they are important when taken as part of the Boultham Moor complex in
pointing to an opportunity, with appropriate management, to restore some of the declining city and
county heathland resource. Heathland has declined by 88% in Lincolnshire since 1920, from
6500ha to 628ha (approx.) in 1995. Only 15ha of heathland in Lincolnshire exist outside the SSSI
system, and much of it, including Starmer's Pit, is currently under secondary woodland.
2) The site supports large numbers of wildfowl in winter, probably as overspill from
other sites such
as Boultham Mere, Swanholme Lakes and Whisby Pits. The site also holds large populations of
breeding moorhen and mallard, as well as other woodland bird species uncommon in an urban
environment including:
Jay Garrelus glandarius (6 sites in Lincoln)
Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopus major (6 sites in Lincoln)
3) The site supports the following rare and endangered species:
Tree sparrow Passer montanus
See Boultham Moor Wood for description. The species was recorded here in 1995.
Landscape Value
Mature woodland and lake important as a local amenity and for informal recreation.
Also important
to the appearance of main road and rail approaches to the City.