Grid Ref: SK944683
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (English Nature); Statutory Local
Nature Reserve
(Lincoln City Council)
Swanholme Lakes are formed from flooded sand and gravel pits, and have remained unpolluted
and
largely undisturbed for over 50 years. Wet and dry heath has developed on the sand deposits
alongside the fen, wetland and woodland habitats present, and the whole site covers 63ha.
Swanholme Lakes has been designated as a Critical Natural Asset for the following reasons.
1) The site supports heathland and wetland habitat types At approx. 25ha, the site
is the largest
area of wetland habitat within the city, and accounts for approx. 31% of the Lincoln's wetland
resource. Swanholme Lakes also supports 18ha of dry heath and is the largest remaining area of
heathland in Lincoln, accounting for 58% of heathland in the city. It is one of only three sites
possessing heathland (as opposed to scattered heath communities under woodland, for example),
and the only site to possess wet heath communities in Lincoln. The site itself represents approx.
0.3% of the county's heathland resource. The wetland habitat is described by English Nature as
the only site in the East Midlands with lime rich and nutrient-poor elements combined. The aquatic
flora is defined by English Nature as being "nationally important."
2) It supports the following rare and endangered species.
Maiden pink Dianthus deltoides
Swanholme Lakes contains the only Lincolnshire population of this nationally scarce
heath and
acid grassland plant.
Sheep's-bit Jasione montana
This heathland plant species is limited to three localities in Lincolnshire, having
been lost from
three others since 1985.
Many-stalked spike-rush Eleocharis multicaulis
A wet heath species declining severely due to habitat loss, this plant is found in
only one other
Lincolnshire locality.
Whorled water-milfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum
A nationally scarce and declining aquatic plant species now recorded at only two other
county
localities. Five other sites have been lost since 1985.
Pillwort Pilularia globulifera
A nationally scarce wetland species only occurring at three other county localities.
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
A scarce breeding species in Lincolnshire with no more than eight confirmed annual
breeding
records between 1991 and 1994.
Red-eyed damselfly Erythromma najas
A nationally localised species confined to southern and midland counties. It is known
from only 6
Lincolnshire localities, including Swanholme Lakes.
Landscape Value
Visually attractive mixture of woodland and open water features with public access
for informal
recreation.
Forms part of a complex of open spaces - i.e. Hartsholme Park and the planned 'swath'
across
Skewbridge, which contributes to the Local Plan's green wedge strategy. Important in relation to
railway approach to the City.
The whole of the site is included in the Hartsholme Wood Doddington Road No.1 Tree
Preservation
Order 1973.