Scouts Hill Project

It's important to be able to get a sense of perspective, reduce your stress levels, fill your lungs with fresh air, get some steady exercise and connect with nature. That's why it's vital that quality green space should be local and accessible to everyone. Scouts Hill has high potential to offer this for the South West Ward of Gainsborough where green space is in short supply at street level.

Scouts Hill comprises a total area of over 10 hectares (25 acres) of high ground which overlooks the town of Gainsborough and provides views across the Trent Valley towards the Pennines. The site comprises 12 fields bordered by native hedgerows, an acre of woodland and some mature oaks.  Together have the current short-term management permissions for this site and are working with landowners to extend permissions to enable long-term enhancements.

The most ecologically important habitat it supports is wildflower-rich grassland which supports an abundance of golden Bulbous Buttercup and delicate white sprays of Pignut in spring. This is followed by a purple summer carpet of Common Knapweed with honey-scented Lady's Bedstraw. The most notable flowers found here are Burnet Saxifrage, Betony, and Zig-zag Clover which have been reduced to isolated patches and are at risk of being lost from the site. 

The south- to west-facing slopes are especially good habitat for a wide range of butterflies and day-flying moths which can fill the air on a still, warm summer's day. Many of the fields support abundant anthills made by the Yellow Meadow Ant which is uncommon in Lincolnshire.

The hedgerows of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Elder and Cherry Plum support nesting migrant songbirds such as Blackcap and Common Whitethroat.

We are also beginning to discover a variety of grassland fungi across the site.

We are working with pony grazing to enhance the grassland biodiversity while creating and maintaining paths and installing gates for improved access.  Our vision is to bring nature closer to people while still providing sanctuary for the species that need it and delivering an overall improvement in biodiversity and naturalness to the area. In this way we hope to play our part for local nature recovery but also provide a vital resource for local people which benefits their health and wellbeing.